Indiana wing/fullback Christian Olney played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 season. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.

A native of Fort Wayne, IN, Christian Olney attended Ohio State University and represented the Buckeyes Men’s Rugby team while enrolled there, securing a Big10 Championship in 2021. Upon graduating, Olney declared for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected in the 2nd Round, 27th Overall by the NOLA Gold.

Olney spent the fall of 2022 with the NOLA Gold academy side in the ARP, and earned an MLR contract for the 2023 season but did not feature. Instead, he was selected to join the USA Hawks development side in Charlotte for an 8-game exhibition season from March-April 2023. Following the MLR season, he again played with the NOLA Gold academy for their 2023 ARP season in the Fall, but did not return to the Gold for their MLR campaign in 2024.

Olney has been playing DII club level rugby for Columbus Rugby back in Ohio since 2024.

Achievements

• 2022 MLR Draftee – 3rd Round (27th Overall) – NOLA Gold

NARDB Player #1,630