DALLAS – Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced an evolution of the Collegiate Rugby Shield, renaming it MLR Rising.
This is designed to be a showcase for top college rugby talent in North America. The previous Collegiate Rugby Shield was really only an NCR event, but it appears to be changing. The new program puts the spotlight on the college game and outlines a clear pathway for players to be evaluated and selected in this summer’s MLR College Draft.
Historically, participants in the Collegiate Rugby Shield found greater opportunities at the professional level with 27 total participants being selected in the MLR Draft in the past two seasons. Rick Rose, of St. Bonaventure University attended the Shield in 2023, propelling him to being the first player selected in the 2023 MLR Draft. MLR Rising aims to build on this pipeline by engaging with the current college rugby coaches as well as MLR players aiming to transition to a coaching career.
As GRR understands it, however, D1A will have a bigger role in this new MLR Rising event. With the D1A All Americans lists expected to be named next week, it's likely those players will be a big part of the MLR Rising. About 70% of MLR draft picks are D1A players so it makes sense for D1A to be involved.
If that is, in fact, the case, then expect there to be a requirement that players involved must be USA Rugby registered members.
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“At Major League Rugby, we are leading the charge to build upon rugby’s rich history in the U.S., and the launch of MLR Rising is a pivotal part of our efforts to grow the game and our league in advance of the 2031 Rugby World Cup in North America,” said Nic Benson, CEO and Commissioner of MLR. “MLR Rising will create a premier showcase for the best collegiate players that enhances the evaluation process for our teams and provides purposeful pathways to playing and coaching careers in professional rugby.”
The inaugural MLR Rising will be held July 8-13, 2024 at Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, VA. During the week, players will be exposed to a professional rugby training environment through training sessions, workshops, and matches. Simultaneously, MLR teams will have the opportunity to evaluate players ahead of the Draft.
As part of the experience, players will also attend the USA vs. Scotland match on July 12 at Audi Field. Players who register for the MLR College Draft 2024 will be added to the potential player pool and 50 individuals, selected by MLR, will be invited to participate in MLR Rising.
