USA eligible players will have more opportunities to push for places as the number of international slots on the gameday 23 will decrease in the 2026-27 season to six.
Any more questions email draft@usmlr.com.
Are Rookies Playing?
Nine of the 26 players drafted in 2025 have seen time in the MLR this season. Compare that to NFL and you'll see a far higher percentage of players get time in their rookie season. However, NFL teams have unlimited substitutions and high roster numbers so going on for one punt return counts as a game, while a sub run-on in rugby takes up 12.5% of your reserves bench.
Of the nine players who have seen time, Anthem players Will Sherman and Campbell Robb have the most, by far. They are followed by Tiai Vavao (Seattle) and Connor Devos (DC).
Sherman, Vavao, and Oscar Treacy have all scored a try this year. Robb has scored five.
Notably, Sherman, Robb, Vavao, Devos, and Treacy were drafted #1 through #5 last summer.
Draftee #6, Elias Garva, also is among the nine, and the other three are Tevita Mapa (#10 overall), Charlie Walsh (#11), and Tevita Mapa (#15). No players drafted in the third round have seen time yet this season.
How It Will Work?
The Draft will have fewer overall spots because there are fewer MLR teams. There are only six teams in the league so a three-round draft will be 18 players, as opposed to 26 in 2025 (it was really 24 but Anthem got two more spots).
Register for the MLR Draft Here>>
