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New Orleans Gold

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New Orleans Gold
Founded2017
LocationMetairie, Louisiana
Ground(s)Gold Mine on Airline (Capacity: 10,000)
Coach(es)Cory Brown
Captain(s)Moni Tongaʻuiha
Most capsMoni Tongaʻuiha (88)
Top scorerJP Eloff (219)
Most tries3 players (15)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2024Conference Semifinals 2nd (Eastern Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.nolagoldrugby.com

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

Home field

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Gold Mine on Airline

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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

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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

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

Sponsorship

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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]

Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018 XBlades None
2019 Louisiana Tourism
2020 Paladin Sports None
2021 None
2022 Louisiana Tourism
2023 LCMC Health
2024 LCMC Health

Players and personnel

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Current squad

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For player movements before and during the 2023 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § New Orleans Gold.

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.

Player Position Union
Augusto Böhme Hooker Chile Chile
Diego Fortuny Hooker Argentina Argentina
Ale Lopeti Hooker United States United States
Pat O'Toole Hooker United States United States
George Sharpe Hooker United States United States
Jarred Adams Prop Samoa Samoa
Matt Harmon Prop United States United States
James Irey Prop United States United States
Sam Klimkowski Prop United States United States
Sean Paranihi Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Trent Rogers Prop United States United States
Isaac Salmon Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Bart Vermeulen Prop Belgium Belgium
Callum Botchar Lock Canada Canada
Cam Dolan Lock United States United States
Chase Jones Lock United States United States
Olajuwon Noa Lock Samoa Samoa
William Waguespack Lock United States United States
Fintan Coleman* Back row Ireland Ireland
Cian Darling* Back row Ireland Ireland
Tom Florence Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Maciu Koroi* Back row Fiji Fiji
Jonah Mau'u Back row Samoa Samoa
Malcolm May Back row United States United States
Moni Tongaʻuiha (c) Back row United States United States
Osaiasi Tongaʻuiha Back row United States United States
Abe Turpen Back row United States United States
Player Position Union
Luke Campbell Scrum-half New Zealand New Zealand
Damian Stevens Scrum-half Namibia Namibia
Sebastiano Villani* Scrum-half Italy Italy
Reece Botha* Fly-half South Africa South Africa
Rodney Iona Fly-half Samoa Samoa
Dorian Jones Fly-half Wales Wales
Ross Depperschmidt Centre United States United States
JP du Plessis Centre South Africa South Africa
Taniela Filimone Centre Tonga Tonga
Jordan Jackson-Hope Centre Australia Australia
Nick Feakes* Wing Australia Australia
Ed Fidow Wing Samoa Samoa
Julian Roberts Wing United States United States
Jack Webster Wing United States United States
Harley Wheeler Wing United States United States
Dougie Fife Fullback Scotland Scotland
Christian Olney Fullback United States United States
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

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Assistant coaches

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Captains

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Records

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Season standings

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Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2018 - 6th 8 3 0 5 209 291 -82 5 17 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2019 - 5th 16 9 0 7 463 403 +60 17 53 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2020[a] Eastern 3rd 5 3 0 2 135 102 +33 4 16 - - - - - - Cancelled
2021 Eastern 3rd 16 10 1 5 375 378 -3 9 51 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2022 Eastern 5th 16 4 0 12 358 517 -159 6 25 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2023 Eastern 4th 16 7 0 9 339 435 -96 6 35 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2024 Eastern 2nd 16 10 0 6 410 349 +61 10 50 1 0 1 21 45 -24 Lost Conference Semifinal (Chicago Hounds) 45–21
Totals 93 46 1 46 2,289 2,475 -186 51 212 - - - - - - 1 postseason appearance

2018 season

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Exhibitions

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
January 20 Capital Selects Home Won, 68–15
February 24 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 30–12
March 10 Glendale Raptors Home Lost, 14–38
March 28 Houston SaberCats Home Draw, 32–32
March 31 Austin Elite Home Won, 48–17
April 7 Austin Elite Away Won, 38–10

Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 21 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 35–26
May 3 Austin Elite Away Lost, 17–30
May 12 Seattle Seawolves Home Lost, 29–31
May 19 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 24–20
May 27 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 26–55
June 3 Glendale Raptors Home Lost, 10–41
June 9 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 22–39
June 16 Utah Warriors Away Won, 46–43

2019 season

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Exhibitions

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
December 8, 2018 USA South Panthers Home Won, 45–10
December 15, 2018 Stars Rugby[10] Home Won, 113–0
January 5, 2019 Midwest Selects Home Won, 74–0
January 12, 2019 Dallas Reds Home Won, 72–0

Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
January 26 Toronto Arrows Home Won, 36-31
February 2 Glendale Raptors Home Won, 40-31
February 10 Seattle Seawolves Home Won, 41-31
February 16 Rugby United New York Home Lost, 24–27
March 2 Utah Warriors Away Won, 21-19
March 16 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 49-11
March 23 Austin Elite Home Won, 35–31
March 30 Glendale Raptors Away Lost, 33-34
April 7 Toronto Arrows Away Won, 35-31
April 13 Utah Warriors Home Won, 28-19
April 21 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 24–25
May 4 Austin Elite Away Won, 26-14
May 11 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 19–26
May 18 Houston SaberCats Home Lost, 20–27
May 26 Rugby United New York Away Lost, 22-24
June 2 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 10-22

2020 season

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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

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 8 Old Glory DC Home Won, 46–13
February 16 Rugby ATL Home Lost, 10–22
February 22 Colorado Raptors Away Won, 27–20
February 29 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 21–25
March 7 New England Free Jacks Home Won, 31–22
March 13 Utah Warriors Away Postponed, later canceled
March 28 Toronto Arrows Home Canceled
April 5 Rugby ATL Away Canceled
April 11 Old Glory DC Away Canceled
April 18 Rugby United New York Home Canceled
April 25 New England Free Jacks Away Canceled
May 3 Toronto Arrows Away Canceled
May 9 Houston SaberCats Home Canceled
May 17 Seattle Seawolves Away Canceled
May 23 Austin Gilgronis Home Canceled
May 30 Rugby United New York Away Canceled

2021 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
March 21 Old Glory DC Home Draw, 26–26
March 27 Rugby United New York Home Won, 51–28
April 10 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 15–18
April 17 New England Free Jacks Home Won 30-29
April 24 Rugby ATL Away Lost, 28-38
May 2 Toronto Arrows Home Won, 22-14
May 8 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 28-26
May 15 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 17-43
May 22 Utah Warriors Home Won, 29-24
June 5 Rugby ATL Home Lost, 7-8
June 12 Old Glory DC Away Won, 25-21
June 20 Toronto Arrows Away Won, 18-12
June 27 New England Free Jacks Away Won, 17-9
July 4 LA Giltinis Away Won, 21-20
July 11 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 6-30
July 17 Rugby United New York Away Won, 35-32

2022 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 5 New England Free Jacks Home Lost, 13-24
February 12 Rugby ATL Home Lost, 9-14
February 19 Toronto Arrows Home Lost, 23-24
March 4 Seattle Seawolves Away Won, 25-24
March 12 Dallas Jackals Away Won, 32-26
March 19 Rugby New York Home Lost, 19-30
March 26 Old Glory DC Away Won, 31-22
April 2 New England Free Jacks Away Lost, 29-33
April 9 Rugby ATL Home Lost, 17-34
April 16 Toronto Arrows Away Lost, 36-53
April 23 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 10-32
May 1 Rugby United NY Away Lost, 28-36
May 14 Old Glory DC Home Won, 50-21
May 21 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 12-42
May 29 New England Free Jacks Away Lost, 5-57
June 3 Rugby ATL Away Lost, 19-45

2023 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result
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 Home The Gold Mine Won, 31-5
March 18 Utah Warriors Home The Gold Mine Won, 37-14
March 25 Old Glory DC Away Segra Field Won, 20-17
April 2 Seattle Seawolves Home The Gold Mine Lost, 36-35
April 15 Rugby ATL Home The Gold Mine Lost, 23-7
April 23 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Won, 37-24
April 30 Toronto Arrows Home The Gold Mine Won, 40-24
May 7 New York Ironworkers Away Memorial Field Lost, 54-19
May 13 San Diego Legion Home The Gold Mine Lost, 26-12
May 21 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 50-3
June 3 Old Glory DC Home The Gold Mine Lost, 28-15
June 10 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 15-10
June 17 Toronto Arrows Away York Lions Stadium Won, 26-24

2024 season

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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

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Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result
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

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See also: 2024 Major League Rugby season § Championship Series
Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result
July 21 Chicago Hounds Home Gold Mine Lost, 45-21

Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ "New Orleans Confirms Major League Rugby Plans". This is American Rugby. 2017-05-25. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  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. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ "NOLA Gold". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Nate Osborne To Coach New Orleans Gold". DJ Coil Rugby. 2017-06-16. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19.
  7. ^ "NOLA Gold Names Kane Thompson as Head Coach".
  8. ^ "NOLA Gold hire Cory Brown as new Head Coach". Americas Rugby News. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Former All Black Carlos Spencer Joins NOLA Gold as Assistant Coach".
  10. ^ "Stars Rugby 7s on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.[user-generated source]
  11. ^ "Major League Rugby Suspends 2020 Season for 30 Days" (Press release). Major League Rugby. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  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.
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