New Orleans Gold

Last updated
New Orleans Gold
New Orleans Gold Rugby Club logo.png
Founded2017
Location Metairie, Louisiana
Ground(s) Gold Mine on Airline (Capacity: 10,000)
Coach(es)Cory Brown
Captain(s) Moni Tongaʻuiha
Top scorer JP Eloff (206)
Most tries Tristan Blewett (12)
League(s) Major League Rugby
2024 Conference Semifinals 2nd (Eastern Conference)
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Kit body.svg
Kit right arm goldborder.png
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1st kit
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2nd kit
Official website
www.nolagoldrugby.com

The New Orleans Gold, stylized as NOLA Gold, is a professional rugby union team based in New Orleans. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby. [1] Since January 2020, French rugby power ASM Clermont Auvergne has owned a minority stake in the team. [2]

Contents

Home field

Gold Mine on Airline

The team plays at the Gold Mine on Airline, formerly known as the Shrine on Airline and Zephyr Field, in Metairie, Louisiana, on the East Bank of the New Orleans metropolitan area. [3]

Joe Zimmerman Stadium

For the first two seasons of Major League Rugby in 2018 and 2019, the team played at Joe Zimmerman Stadium at Archbishop Shaw High School under the branding of Gold Stadium. The natural turf field with grandstand seating for up to 3,000 people is located on the West Bank at Marrero, Louisiana. [4]

Broadcasts

Home games are shown on Cox Sports Television. Ian McNulty and Geoffrey Ormsby are the on air talent.

Sponsorship

For the 2022 season, NOLA Gold partnered with local Louisiana, Port Orleans Brewing Company to make "GOLDen Ale". These 16-ounce cans will be available for purchase in the brewery's tap room and on tap at the start of the season. It will also be sold throughout the season in the team's home stadium, the Shrine on Airline. [3]

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2018 XBlades None
2019Louisiana Tourism
2020 Paladin Sports None
2021None
2022Louisiana Tourism
2023LCMC Health
2024LCMC Health

Players and personnel

Current squad

The New Orleans Gold squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: [5]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Augusto Böhme Hooker Flag of Chile.svg Chile
Diego Fortuny Hooker Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Ale Lopeti Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Pat O'Toole Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
George Sharpe Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jarred Adams Prop Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Matt Harmon Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
James Irey Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sam Klimkowski Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sean Paranihi Prop Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Trent Rogers Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Isaac Salmon Prop Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Bart Vermeulen Prop Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Callum Botchar Lock Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Cam Dolan Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Chase Jones Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Olajuwon Noa Lock Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
William Waguespack Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Fintan Coleman* Back row IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Cian Darling* Back row IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Tom Florence Back row Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Maciu Koroi* Back row Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji
Jonah Mau'u Back row Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Malcolm May Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Moni Tongaʻuiha (c) Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Osaiasi Tongaʻuiha Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Abe Turpen Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Luke Campbell Scrum-half Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Damian Stevens Scrum-half Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia
Sebastiano Villani* Scrum-half Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Reece Botha* Fly-half Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Rodney Iona Fly-half Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Dorian Jones Fly-half Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales
Ross Depperschmidt Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
JP du Plessis Centre Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Taniela Filimone Centre Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Jordan Jackson-Hope Centre Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Nick Feakes* Wing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Ed Fidow Wing Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Julian Roberts Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jack Webster Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Harley Wheeler Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Dougie Fife Fullback Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
Christian Olney Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States

Head coaches

Assistant coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2018 -6th8305209291-82517------Did not qualify
2019 -5th16907463403+601753------Did not qualify
2020 [lower-alpha 1] Eastern3rd5302135102+33416------Cancelled
2021 Eastern3rd161015375378-3951------Did not qualify
2022 Eastern5th164012358517-159625------Did not qualify
2023 Eastern4th16709339435-96635------Did not qualify
2024 Eastern2nd161006410349+6110501012145-24Lost Conference Semifinal (Chicago Hounds) 45–21
Totals93461462,2892,475-18651212------1 postseason appearance

2018 season

Exhibitions

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 20 Capital Selects HomeWon, 68–15
February 24 Houston SaberCats AwayWon, 30–12
March 10 Glendale Raptors HomeLost, 14–38
March 28Houston SaberCatsHomeDraw, 32–32
March 31 Austin Elite HomeWon, 48–17
April 7Austin EliteAwayWon, 38–10

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
April 21Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 35–26
May 3Austin EliteAwayLost, 17–30
May 12 Seattle Seawolves HomeLost, 29–31
May 19Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 24–20
May 27Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 26–55
June 3Glendale RaptorsHomeLost, 10–41
June 9 San Diego Legion HomeLost, 22–39
June 16 Utah Warriors AwayWon, 46–43

2019 season

Exhibitions

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
December 8, 2018 USA South Panthers HomeWon, 45–10
December 15, 2018Stars Rugby [10] HomeWon, 113–0
January 5, 2019 Midwest Selects HomeWon, 74–0
January 12, 2019Dallas RedsHomeWon, 72–0

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 26 Toronto Arrows HomeWon, 36-31
February 2 Glendale Raptors HomeWon, 40-31
February 10 Seattle Seawolves HomeWon, 41-31
February 16 Rugby United New York HomeLost, 24–27
March 2 Utah Warriors AwayWon, 21-19
March 16 Houston SaberCats AwayWon, 49-11
March 23 Austin Elite HomeWon, 35–31
March 30Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 33-34
April 7Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 35-31
April 13Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 28-19
April 21Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 24–25
May 4Austin EliteAwayWon, 26-14
May 11 San Diego Legion HomeLost, 19–26
May 18Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 20–27
May 26Rugby United New YorkAwayLost, 22-24
June 2San Diego LegionAwayLost, 10-22

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. [11] One week later (March 19), MLR announced that it had canceled the rest of the 2020 season. [12]

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 8 Old Glory DC HomeWon, 46–13
February 16 Rugby ATL HomeLost, 10–22
February 22 Colorado Raptors AwayWon, 27–20
February 29 San Diego Legion HomeLost, 21–25
March 7 New England Free Jacks HomeWon, 31–22
March 13 Utah Warriors AwayPostponed, later canceled
March 28 Toronto Arrows HomeCanceled
April 5Rugby ATLAwayCanceled
April 11Old Glory DCAwayCanceled
April 18 Rugby United New York HomeCanceled
April 25New England Free JacksAwayCanceled
May 3Toronto ArrowsAwayCanceled
May 9 Houston SaberCats HomeCanceled
May 17 Seattle Seawolves AwayCanceled
May 23 Austin Gilgronis HomeCanceled
May 30Rugby United New YorkAwayCanceled

2021 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 21 Old Glory DC HomeDraw, 26–26
March 27 Rugby United New York HomeWon, 51–28
April 10 Austin Gilgronis HomeLost, 15–18
April 17 New England Free Jacks HomeWon 30-29
April 24 Rugby ATL AwayLost, 28-38
May 2 Toronto Arrows HomeWon, 22-14
May 8 Houston SaberCats AwayWon, 28-26
May 15 San Diego Legion AwayLost, 17-43
May 22 Utah Warriors HomeWon, 29-24
June 5Rugby ATLHomeLost, 7-8
June 12Old Glory DCAwayWon, 25-21
June 20Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 18-12
June 27New England Free JacksAwayWon, 17-9
July 4 LA Giltinis AwayWon, 21-20
July 11 Seattle Seawolves AwayLost, 6-30
July 17Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 35-32

2022 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 5 New England Free Jacks HomeLost, 13-24
February 12 Rugby ATL HomeLost, 9-14
February 19 Toronto Arrows HomeLost, 23-24
March 4 Seattle Seawolves AwayWon, 25-24
March 12 Dallas Jackals AwayWon, 32-26
March 19 Rugby New York HomeLost, 19-30
March 26 Old Glory DC AwayWon, 31-22
April 2New England Free JacksAwayLost, 29-33
April 9Rugby ATLHomeLost, 17-34
April 16Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 36-53
April 23 Austin Gilgronis HomeLost, 10-32
May 1Rugby United NYAwayLost, 28-36
May 14Old Glory DCHomeWon, 50-21
May 21 San Diego Legion HomeLost, 12-42
May 29New England Free JacksAwayLost, 5-57
June 3Rugby ATLAwayLost, 19-45

2023 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 17 New England Free Jacks Home The Gold Mine Lost, 36-12
February 25 Houston SaberCats Away SaberCats Stadium Lost, 35-14
March 4 Rugby ATL Away Silverbacks Park Lost, 29-16
March 12 New York Ironworkers HomeThe Gold MineWon, 31-5
March 18 Utah Warriors HomeThe Gold MineWon, 37-14
March 25 Old Glory DC Away Segra Field Won, 20-17
April 2 Seattle Seawolves HomeThe Gold MineLost, 36-35
April 15Rugby ATLHomeThe Gold MineLost, 23-7
April 23 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Won, 37-24
April 30 Toronto Arrows HomeThe Gold MineWon, 40-24
May 7New York IronworkersAway Memorial Field Lost, 54-19
May 13 San Diego Legion HomeThe Gold MineLost, 26-12
May 21New England Free JacksAway Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 50-3
June 3Old Glory DCHomeThe Gold MineLost, 28-15
June 10 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 15-10
June 17Toronto ArrowsAway York Lions Stadium Won, 26-24

2024 season

NOLA Gold played 16 games in the 2024 regular season, with all eight home games played at the Gold Mine. The team finished the regular season 10–6 and qualified for its first playoff berth, losing to the Chicago Hounds 45-21 in the Eastern Conference semifinal. [13]

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 2 Old Glory DC Home Gold Mine Won, 18-6
March 9 Anthem RC Home Gold Mine Won, 34–19
March 16 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 27–21
March 23 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 35–22
April 4 Chicago Hounds Home Gold Mine Lost, 38–21
April 14 San Diego Legion Away Snapdragon Stadium Lost, 33–20
April 20 Miami Sharks Home Gold Mine Lost, 42–27
April 27 Anthem RC Away Truist Point Won, 40–5
May 11 Seattle Seawolves Home Gold Mine Won, 32–31
May 18 Utah Warriors Home Gold Mine Won, 21–14
May 26 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Won, 25–13
June 1 Houston SaberCats Home Gold Mine Lost, 21–7
June 9 Miami Sharks Away Chase Stadium Won, 20-13
June 16 RFC Los Angeles Away Dignity Health Sports Park Won, 38-21
June 22 New England Free Jacks Home Gold Mine Won, 27-17
June 29 Old Glory DC Away Maryland Soccerplex Lost, 27–24

Postseason

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
July 21 Chicago Hounds Home Gold Mine Lost, 45-21

Notes

  1. 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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References

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  2. Williams, Bob (January 30, 2020). "Austin MLR team gains new name and owners, NOLA Gold partners with Clermont Auvergne". SportBusiness. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Mackel, Travers (August 30, 2019). "When Baby Cakes leave, what happens to "Shrine On Airline?'". WDSU . Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  4. "Archbishop Shaw High School Breaks Ground on New Stadium". wbbeacon.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
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  6. "Nate Osborne To Coach New Orleans Gold". DJ Coil Rugby. 2017-06-16. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19.
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  10. "Stars Rugby 7s on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.[ user-generated source ]
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  12. "Major League Rugby Has Decided to Cancel the Remainder of the 2020 Season and Turn Attention to 2021" (Press release). Major League Rugby. March 19, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  13. "Strong second half sees Chicago past NOLA into East Final". Americas Rugby News. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.