DALLAS – Former California rugby co-captain and Rudy Scholz Award finalist Max Schumacher was the second overall pick by the Houston SaberCats in the 2023 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft on Thursday afternoon. Houston was the previous home of Golden Bear alumnus and Olympian Danny Barrett, along with scrumhalf and All-American Nick Boyer, and is the current team of former Bear and U.S. international Christian Dyer.
 
Schumacher's 2023 selection was preceded by former Cal captain Sam Golla's No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Jackals in 2022. Golla went on to start in every match for the Jackals in his debut season and was named MLR Rookie of the Year and to the All-MLR First Team before earning the call-up to the U.S. National Team on its summer tour. Fellow 2022 graduates Seth Purdey and Jack Manzo also entered the draft in 2022 and were taken as picks No. 4 and No. 19, respectively.
 
Schumacher's versatility and leadership qualities made him a standout for the Bears over his four years at Cal. He earned a spot in Cal's first XV in his freshman season and cemented his role in the starting backline for the remainder of his collegiate career. Schumacher featured primarily as the fullback and flyhalf, and in addition to his strong ball carrying, his left boot proved to be an important aspect of the Bears' scoreline as he added the extras on hundreds of conversion attempts.
 
In his final season at Cal, Schumacher was the leading points-scorer for the team, amassing a whopping 137 points between four tries, four penalty kicks and 54 slotted conversions on 77 attempts. He was also a key factor in Cal's sevens play during his time with the Bears, lifting the team to its last two consecutive PAC 7's Championship titles.
 
Schumacher garnered national recognition for his impressive senior season in which he led the Bears to an appearance in the national championship match and was tabbed a finalist for the Rudy Scholz Award for best male collegiate rugby player in the country. Prior to that in 2022, Schumacher was named to the All-American Second Team.
 
Schumacher graduated from the esteemed Haas School of Business in May with a bachelor's degree in business administration. His pursuit of excellence on the pitch also translated to his studies, with the first-generation college student earning the prestigious Jake Gimbel Award upon his graduation. The award is presented each year to the top graduating male athlete across all of Cal's 30 Intercollegiate Athletic programs who embodies a combination of athletic and academic diligence.
 
Prior to his arrival in Berkeley, Schumacher attended Jesuit High School in Sacramento. There, he was the Mauraders' season MVP for three consecutive years and co-captained the rugby squad to their National Single-School Championship title in his senior year.
 
"Congratulations to Max," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "We wish him the very best in this next chapter."
 
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