'When they told me that I was going to be the number one pick, I didn't expect things to blow up as much as they did'
Conner Mooneyham received a phone call last Saturday that would change his life forever.
Dallas Jackals head coach Allen Clarke and assistant Elaine Vassie called the 24-year old, telling him that he was set to become the first pick at the inaugural Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft.
MLR commissioner George Killebrew made the announcement official on Saturday night by reading out his name live on Major League Rugby’s Facebook page.
Mooneyham was one of four players selected by MLR’s youngest franchise, the Dallas Jackals, who are set to join the competition in 2021 alongside the LA Giltinis.
The former Life University centre, who also plays on the wing, was “honoured” to have been selected as the first-ever Draft pick, but admitted that he was surprised with the reaction that followed.
“It was kind of like an explosion, my phone should’ve broken because of all the notifications that I got. It was unexpected for sure,” Mooneyham told RugbyPass.
“When they told me that I was going to be the number one pick, I didn’t expect things to blow up as much as they did with rugby not being as popular as other sports in America.
“It’s definitely an exciting time for me and my family.”
Mooneyham added that he was thrilled to have been picked by Dallas after falling “in love” with their direction and standards ahead of the Draft.
“A lot of teams did reach out to me but anybody who is an aspiring MLR player definitely wants to go in the first round. To be able to go as the first pick, that’s always an aspiration and that was mine too.
“[Dallas] were actually the only team that FaceTimed me, so they got to know me a little bit better face-to-face.
“I really liked their culture and their standards. They’re trying to create a team with a lot of domestic talent, a lot of young talent so I really fell in love with their core values.”
Being selected in the Draft was the result of years of hard work and dedication to the sport after beginning his rugby journey at 12 years old in Northern California.
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Playing for Sierra Foothills Rugby Club, Mooneyham developed his passion for the code – albeit after a tough introduction.
“I had just turned 12 and my Dad thought that it was a great age for me to hit the pitch with Sierra Foothills in Northern California.
“My first rugby game, we got pummelled, I don’t think we scored a single try. I was a lot smaller back then, I didn’t hit a growth spurt until sophomore year of high school I’d say so I was just getting whipped around, playing scrumhalf and not really knowing what I was doing.
“I loved the game, the players definitely kept me coming back with the camaraderie I had with my team at the time, and how nobody wasn’t down even though we got pummelled every single game.”
Mooneyham began attending Life University in 2014, where he became an integral part of one of the most successful rugby programs in the country.
He later left the United States for two years on a mission to Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, before returning to Life in 2018.
“It was definitely a process but they welcomed me back with open arms, don’t get me wrong. They gave me a scholarship back and everything which was an honour, a huge blessing because I didn’t expect any of that.
“I had to work my way back onto the starting side just like any new player coming back.”
Life won an undefeated D1A National Championship in 2019, where Mooneyham scored the winning try in a tense 29-26 victory over the University of California’s Golden Bears.
It was his second National Championship victory after winning his first title in 2016, but he admitted that that season was the highlight of his time at Life.
“I came back from the mission a little bit uncertain about not rugby in general but my abilities because I’d taken two years off in Argentina.
Another example that the times they are a-changin https://t.co/RQxavIhVL4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 18, 2020
“Coming back and just winning every single game with the lads, taking home the Championship, that was the best feeling.”
After being drafted, the utility back was confident in saying that Dallas was ready to host a rugby team. The Jackals will become MLR’s third Texan franchise when they join next season, alongside the already established Austin Gilgronis and Houston SaberCats.
“I think Dallas as a whole, the city, is prepared for rugby and that’s the biggest thing. Dallas is a great sports hub and they have a big rugby culture there that has been instilled in Dallas, so it’s really prepared for this team.”
“Obviously you have flashy players coming in Rene Ranger and Ma’a Nonu which definitely brings attention to the league for sure, but I think domestic talent will help it grow in the best way especially within the youth of America.”
Mooneyham has his sights set firmly focused on what he can do with Dallas, with so much opportunity awaiting the team heading into its maiden season.
He’s looking forward to doing whatever he can to help the team be successful, in whatever role that might be.
“A long-term goal is to help Dallas become a franchise team. It’s a brand-new team, there’s a lot of excitement around building a new team and I’m just excited about being part of that and continuing my career in the MLR.
“I’m thinking more of a back three, wing or fullback type role. But it all depends on who is there and the personnel, and how our system is going to work and what our plans are. It’s exciting.”
Mooneyham and the other 23 players drafted will have the opportunity to take the field next year when Major League Rugby returns for its fourth season.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments