FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA CLARA, CA – The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) proudly announces that 18 of its standout athletes were selected in the 2025 Major League Rugby (MLR) Draft, underscoring the strength and depth of collegiate rugby talent across the nation.
Leading the way was Will Sherman of University of California Los Angeles, who was chosen as the #1 overall pick by Anthem Rugby Carolina. Sherman’s selection marks a historic moment for CRAA and sets the tone for a draft dominated by CRAA talent.
Three players from Central Washington University were selected in the first round, including Campbell Robb (#2, Anthem Rugby Carolina), Tiai Vavao (#3, Seattle Seawolves), and Oscar Treacy (#5, California Legion).
In total, 14 of the 18 CRAA draftees participated in the prestigious 2025 CRAA All-American East vs. West match, further highlighting the event’s role in showcasing elite collegiate talent to professional scouts.
The full list of CRAA draftees includes:
- Round 1, Pick 1 – Will Sherman, University of California Los Angeles. Drafted by Anthem Rugby Carolina
- Round 1, Pick 2 – Campbell Robb, Central Washington University. Drafted by Anthem Rugby Carolina
- Round 1, Pick 3 – Tiai Vavao, Central Washington University. Drafted by Seattle Seawolves
- Round 1, Pick 4 – Connor Devos, Lindenwood University. Drafted by Old Glory DC
- Round 1, Pick 5 – Oscar Treacy, Central Washington University. Drafted by California Legion
- Round 1, Pick 6 – Elias Garza, Life University. Drafted by Chicago Hounds
- Round 1, Pick 8 – Iremia Iremia, University of California Berkeley. Drafted by California Legion
- Round 1, Pick 9 – Adam Chadwick, Life University. Drafted by New England Free Jacks
- Round 2, Pick 1 – Tevita Mapa, Life University. Drafted by New England Free Jacks
- Round 2, Pick 2 – Charlie Walsh, University of California Berkeley. Drafted by Seattle Seawolves
- Round 2, Pick 4 – Joshua Cox, University of California Los Angeles. Drafted by California Legion
- Round 2, Pick 5 – Bastian Brunello, Mount St. Mary’s University. Drafted by Chicago Hounds
- Round 2, Pick 7 – King Matu Jr., Saint Mary’s College. Drafted by Houston Sabercats
- Round 2, Pick 8 – Leon Best, Life University. Drafted by New England Free Jacks
- Round 3, Pick 1 – Chad Tinney, Lindenwood University. Drafted by Anthem Rugby Carolina
- Round 3, Pick 3 – Keelin Coyle, University of South Florida. Drafted by Seattle Seawolves
- Round 3, Pick 7 – Jacob Hall, University of Arizona. Drafted by the Utah Warriors
- Round 3, Pick 8 – Ian Roudybush, Penn State University. Drafted by Houston Sabercats
“This year’s draft is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and skill of our student-athletes and coaching staffs,” said Paul Santinelli, Men’s Director. “We’re thrilled to see so many of our players take the next step in their rugby careers and look forward to watching them thrive in USA’s high performance landscape.”
For more information about CRAA and its programs, visit https://craa.rugby.
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