Old Glory DC select Logan Ballinger first in 2026 MLR College Draft

Old Glory DC selected Life University flanker Logan Ballinger with the first pick of the 2026 Major League Rugby College Draft. Fourteen players were taken across three rounds, with five teams from the 2026 MLR season involved in the seventh edition of the draft.

Ballinger, who has also represented the USA at age-grade level, was the draft’s top selection after building a record that includes USA under-18, under-20 and under-23 involvement. He was also named a CRAA All-American in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and was a finalist for the 2026 Rudy Scholz Award.

The selections reflected an emphasis on players who could be ready for MLR competition in 2027. The league currently has limited development opportunities, making immediate readiness an important factor in the choices made by the participating teams.

Six of the drafted players have previously received age-grade international recognition. Among the players selected were Aaron van Dyk and Fraser Leslie, both juniors who are expected to become eligible to represent the United States in 2028. Their inclusion places them in MLR’s pathway category despite their current status.

Cormac Saint was the only Canadian-eligible player chosen. The former USA under-20 scrumhalf also appeared on Canada’s 2025 men’s XV longlist, adding international pathway experience to the draft class.

The draft also produced a notable positional pattern. No specialist props or flyhalves were selected among the 14 players. The class instead included players with established college and age-grade credentials, including several with CRAA All-American recognition and USA under-23 experience.