League: Major League Rugby
Founded in 2017 with it’s inaugural season played in 2018, Major League Rugby (MLR) is the highest level of professional rugby in North America.
Tristan Blewett
South African utility back Tristan Blewett played in Major League Rugby during the 2019 season. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.
Blewett was a standout in his lone MLR season, scoring 12 tries in 15 games (all starts) and finishing 3rd in the league behind John Ryberg & Dylan Fawsitt, both on 13. Additionally, he racked up 1,349m gained and over 150 tackles to earn a spot on the All-MLR First XV. Blewett’s meters gained total was the 4th highest league-wide in 2019.
Joey Sok
Michigan native Joey Sok played in Major League Rugby during the inaugural 2018 season. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.
Joey Sok attended West Ottawa High School in Ottawa County, Michigan, winning the state championship in 2012 before enrolling at Davenport University, playing wing/fullback with the Panthers while there. He was selected for the USA Falcons 7s team in 2017, participating in the Punta del Este 7s in Uruguay, before signing with the NOLA Gold ahead of Major League Rugby’s inaugural season in 2018.
In his (and MLR’s) debut season, he started 1 of his 2 appearances for the NOLA Gold, scoring a try in their defeat to the Glendale Raptors in Round 7.