Nick Feakes

Australian born USA-eligible wing/fullback Nick Feakes played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2020 and 2022-2023. He represented the NOLA Gold between 2019-2022 before moving to New York to support his partner who was studying there, and playing for the Ironworkers in 2023. Feakes missed the entire 2021 season due to a serious knee injury sustained at the World Tens Series in Bermuda, before the MLR season had started.

Feakes attended Lindenwood University between 2014-2018 and thus qualified for the USA on residency, and was a finalist for the Rudy Schultz award for national player of the year. He served as a coach for the NOLA Gold academy in 2019 & 2020, also leading Louisiana’s youth rugby program. He earned 42 MLR caps, 31 for NOLA and 11 for Rugby New York. He scored a total of 12 tries, including 9 for NOLA.

On 30th June 2023, Feakes announced on instagram that he was retiring from playing professionally at the age of 28, however NOLA Gold announced the signing of Feakes for the 2024 season on April 1st, 2024.

Achievements:

  • Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 8
  • Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 7
  • Team of the Week: 2022 – Week 16
  • Team of the Week: 2019 – Week 16
  • Team of the Week: 2019 – Week 6

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.