NOLA Gold

background & History

The New Orleans (NOLA) Gold were founded in 2017 as a founding member of Major League Rugby and they have competed in every season of MLR to date, 2018-2024. NOLA Gold is owned by founder Tim Falcon, the owner of Falcon Law Firm and since 2020, French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne have owned a minority stake of the team. NOLA Gold took part in the first ever MLR game, a 26-35 away victory against the Houston SaberCats.

The NOLA Gold have the unenvious record of having the longest postseason drought in MLR history, having never qualified for the Championship Series in 6 seasons. They missed out by 2pts in 2021, and by just 1pt in 2019, prior to the introduction of the Conference system. For the 2024 season, MLR announced the expansion of the Championship Series from 6 teams to 8, meaning that 66% of the league will qualify for the post-season. Finishing 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 10-6, the NOLA Gold finally ended their post-season drought and qualified for their first Playoffs in 2024. As the higher seeded team, the Gold hosted the Chicago Hounds (also in their first ever playoff game) in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, where they fell 21-45. With inconsistent performances haunting their 2023 & 2024 seasons, the Gold will be looking to return to the post season in 2025 and make a deep run for the Shield. Despite a first post-season qualification and arguably best-ever regular season, NOLA Gold announced that they were parting ways with Head Coach Cory Brown after only 1 season.


records & Record Holders

all time

Top Scorer: JP Eloff (219pts)
Top Try Scorer: Pat O’Toole, Eric Howard, Cam Dolan (15)
Top Playoff Scorer: Rodney Iona (6pts)
Top Tackler:
Moni Tonga’uiha (789)
Top Meter Eater:
Moni Tonga’uiha (4,157m)
Most Capped Player: Moni Tonga’uiha (88)
Most Starts: Moni Tonga’uiha (70)

single season

Top Scorer: JP Eloff (141pts) – 2019
Top Try Scorer: Tristan Blewett (12) – 2019
Top Tackler:JP du Plessis (178)
Top Meter Eater: JP du Plessis (1,533m) – 2022

historical performance

2018: 3-0-5 (-82) – 17pts: 6th
2019: 9-0-7 (+60) – 54pts: 5th
2020: 3-0-2 (+33) – 16pts: 3rd in Eastern Conference
2021: 10-1-5 (-3) – 51pts: 3rd in Eastern Conference
2022: 4-0-12 (-159) – 25pts: 5th in Eastern Conference
2023: 7-0-9 (-96) – 35pts: 4th in Eastern Conference
2024: 10-0-6 (+61) – 50pts: 2nd in Eastern Conference (Conference Semifinalist)

Overall Regular Season Record: 46-1-46
Overall Championship Series Record: 0-1
Championship Series Appearances: 1 (2024)


Head Coach & Captain

head coach
captain

logo & Jersey

NOLA rugby
2018-Present
Mardi-Grad Variant

The NOLA Gold logo has barely changed at all since the founding of the club in 2017. It depicts a shield divided into quarters of Gold & White, with ‘NOLA’ written across the quarters. Atop the shield logo is a golden crown which has changed very slightly through the years. There have been minor variations to this logo, with a recurring one being Mardi Gras beads hanging from the crown (see above).

In 2018, the NOLA Gold jerseys were primarily gold with faded hoops for home, and primarily white with faded gold accents. Since 2019, the Gold have always had at least one jersey divided into quarters (similar to their logo) and coloured with alternating Gold and black or white sections. For many seasons the Gold also had a special Mardi Gras jersey that was alternating hoops of the traditional purple, green, and gold. In 2024, this Mardi Gras jersey, which was always very popular, became the Gold’s regular away jersey.

venue

For their first two seasons in MLR (2018-2019), the NOLA Gold played their home games out of Joe Zimmerman Stadium at Archbishop Shaw High School a 3,000 capacity natural turf field that was branded as ‘Gold Stadium’. For the 2020 season and beyond, the Gold moved homes to the Gold Mine on Airline (formerly Shrine on Airline, or Zephyr Field), a 10,000 seater Baseball stadium in Metairie, Louisiana owned by the State of Louisiana. The Gold have been the only tenants of the Stadium since 2020, perhaps allowing for the ‘Gold Mine’ name.

Gold Mine on Airline

Results

45 - 36

2025 - RD 12: San Diego Legion v NOLA Gold

44 - 36

2025 - RD 11: NOLA Gold v Seattle Seawolves

17 - 15

2025 - RD 10: Houston SaberCats v NOLA Gold

51 - 29

2025 - RD 9: NOLA Gold v Old Glory DC

19 - 33

2025 - RD 8: Anthem RC v NOLA Gold

18 - 20

2025 - RD 7: NOLA Gold v Chicago Hounds

24 - 31

2025 - RD 6: NOLA Gold v Rugby FC LA

35 - 31

2025 - RD 5: New England Free Jacks v NOLA Gold

55 - 21

2025 - RD 3: Utah Warriors v NOLA Gold

30 - 25

2025 - RD 2: Miami Sharks v NOLA Gold

35 - 14

2025 - RD 1: NOLA Gold v Anthem RC

21 - 45

2024 Eastern Conference SF 2 - NOLA Gold v Chicago Hounds

27 - 24

2024 - RD 18: Old Glory DC v NOLA Gold

27 - 17

2024 - RD 17: NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks

21 - 38

2024 - RD 16: Rugby FC LA v NOLA Gold

13 - 20

2024 - RD 15: Miami Sharks v NOLA Gold

7 - 21

2024 - RD 14: NOLA Gold v Houston SaberCats

13 - 25

2024 - RD 13: Chicago Hounds v NOLA Gold

21 - 14

2024 - RD 12: NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors

32 - 31

2024 - RD 11: NOLA Gold v Seattle Seawolves

5 - 40

2024 - RD 9: Anthem RC v NOLA Gold

27 - 42

2024 - RD 8: NOLA Gold v Miami Sharks

33 - 20

2024 - RD 7: San Diego Legion v NOLA Gold

21 - 38

2024 - RD 6: NOLA Gold v Chicago Hounds

22 - 35

2024 - RD 4: Dallas Jackals v NOLA Gold

27 - 21

2024 - RD 3: New England Free Jacks v NOLA Gold

34 - 19

2024 - RD 2: NOLA Gold v Anthem RC

18 - 6

2024 - RD 1: NOLA Gold v Old Glory DC

24 - 26

2023 - RD 18: Toronto Arrows v NOLA Gold

10 - 15

2023 - RD 17: Dallas Jackals v NOLA Gold

15 - 28

2023 - RD 16: NOLA Gold v Old Glory DC

50 - 3

2023 - RD 14: New England Free Jacks v NOLA Gold

12 - 26

2023 - RD 13: NOLA Gold v San Diego Legion

54 - 19

2023 - RD 12: New York Ironworkers v NOLA Gold

40 - 24

2023 - RD 11: NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows

24 - 37

2023 - RD 10: Chicago Hounds v NOLA Gold

7 - 23

2023 - Rd 9: NOLA Gold v Rugby ATL

35 - 36

2023 - RD 7: NOLA Gold v Seattle Seawolves

17 - 20

2023 - Rd 6: Old Glory DC v NOLA Gold

37 - 14

2023 - RD 5: NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors

31 - 5

2023 - RD 4: NOLA Gold v New York Ironworkers

29 - 16

2023 - RD 3: Rugby ATL v NOLA Gold

35 - 14

2023 - RD 2: Houston SaberCats v NOLA Gold

12 - 36

2023 - RD 1: NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks

45 - 19

2022 - RD 18: Rugby ATL v NOLA Gold

57 - 5

2022 - RD 17: New England Free Jacks v NOLA Gold

12 - 42

2022 - RD 16: NOLA Gold v San Diego Legion

50 - 21

2022 - RD 15: NOLA Gold v Old Glory DC

36 - 28

2022 - RD 13: Rugby New York v NOLA Gold

10 - 32

2022 - RD 12: NOLA Gold v Austin Gilgronis

53 - 36

2022 - RD 11: Toronto Arrows v NOLA Gold

17 - 34

2022 - RD 10: NOLA Gold v Rugby ATL

33 - 29

2022 - RD 9: New England Free Jacks v NOLA Gold

22 - 31

2022 - RD 8: Old Glory DC v NOLA Gold

19 - 30

2022 - RD 7: NOLA Gold v Rugby New York

26 - 32

2022 - RD 6: Dallas Jackals v NOLA Gold

24 - 25

2022 - RD 5: Seattle Seawolves v NOLA Gold

23 - 24

2022 - RD 3: NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows

9 - 14

2022 - RD 2: NOLA Gold v Rugby ATL

13 - 24

2022 - RD 1: NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks

32 - 35

2021 - RD 18: Rugby United New York v NOLA Gold

30 - 6

2021 - RD 17: Seattle Seawolves v NOLA Gold

20 - 21

2021 - RD 16: LA Giltinis v NOLA Gold

9 - 17

2021 - RD 15: New England Free Jacks v NOLA Gold

12 - 18

2021 - RD 14: Toronto Arrows v NOLA Gold

21 - 25

2021 - RD 13: Old Glory DC v NOLA Gold

7 - 8

2021 - RD 12: NOLA Gold v Rugby ATL

29 - 24

2021 - RD 10: NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors

43 - 17

2021 - RD 9: San Diego Legion v NOLA Gold

28 - 26

2021 - RD 8: NOLA Gold v Houston SaberCats

22 - 14

2021 - RD 7: NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows

38 - 28

2021 - RD 6: Rugby ATL v NOLA Gold

30 - 29

2021 - RD 5: NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks

15 - 18

2021 - RD 4: NOLA Gold v Austin Gilgronis

51 - 28

2021 - RD 2: NOLA Gold v Rugby United New York

26 - 26

2021 - RD 1: NOLA Gold v Old Glory DC

31 - 22

2020 - RD 5: NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks

21 - 25

2020 - Rd 4: NOLA Gold v San Diego Legion

20 - 27

2020 - RD 3: Colorado Raptors v NOLA Gold

10 - 22

2020 - RD 2: NOLA Gold v Rugby ATL

46 - 13

2020 - RD 1: NOLA Gold v Old Glory DC

22 - 10

2019 - RD 19: San Diego Legion v NOLA Gold

24 - 22

2019 - RD 18: Rugby United New York v NOLA Gold

20 - 27

2019 - RD 17: NOLA Gold v Houston SaberCats

19 - 26

2019 - RD 16: NOLA Gold v San Diego Legion

26 - 14

2019 - RD 15: NOLA Gold v Austin Elite

25 - 24

2019 - RD 13: Seattle Seawolves v NOLA Gold

28 - 19

2019 - RD 12: NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors

31 - 35

2019 RD 11: Toronto Arrows v NOLA Gold

34 - 33

2019 RD 10: Glendale Raptors v NOLA Gold

35 - 31

2019 - RD 9: NOLA Gold v Austin Elite

11 - 49

2019 - RD 8: Houston SaberCats v NOLA Gold

19 - 21

2019 - RD 6: Utah Warriors v NOLA Gold

24 - 27

2019 - RD 4: NOLA Gold v Rugby United New York

41 - 31

2019 - RD 3: NOLA Gold v Seattle Seawolves

40 - 31

2019 RD 2: NOLA Gold v Glendale Raptors

36 - 31

2019 RD 1: NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows

43 - 46

2018 RD 9: Utah Warriors v NOLA Gold

22 - 39

2018 RD 8: NOLA Gold v San Diego Legion

10 - 47

2018 RD 7: NOLA Gold v Glendale Raptors

55 - 26

2018 RD 6: Seattle Seawolves v NOLA Gold

24 - 20

2018 RD 5: NOLA Gold v Houston SaberCats

29 - 31

2018 RD 4: NOLA Gold v Seattle Seawolves

30 - 17

2018 RD 3: Austin Elite v NOLA Gold

26 - 35

2018 Rd 1: Houston SaberCats v NOLA Gold

All-Time MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
111271401324926725776022368
211667472330728914165824354
3866224024401793647459302
41055054126432851-2085221275
51064558329843031-475531272
61075057027102973-2635017267
77546290200017862144113238
8833346421422495-3534417201
9702939217711884-1132716163
105630251140512651402710159
1161253511457142136249135
123425901036618418205125
13452024111381180-421710109
1431171228568015517392
1550941010171710-693191772
16279162695829-13417562
172711160587693-1069659
182702705261070-5448412

2025 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
111830376304728141
211830304227777140
311830295252435138
412750363322418238
511740334283517237
611560313335-228230
711461328356-289330
81146131731077328
91147033333127528
1011560252304-525227
11110110203394-191235

2024 MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
116142047834713111067
216115049837312511457
3161150421374477556
41611504633441198355
5161060410349618250
616871454387678445
716610048245032111043
816772394416-226442
9165110424471-477835
10166100335389-544432
11165101367473-1068232
12160160323676-353617

2023 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
116151055428526913174
216142055627328311168
31612405093481619259
41610604844137111253
5161060445421248250
6168804283874110143
716781408443-3511243
816790339435-966135
9165101355428-735128
10163130327497-1704420
11162140278458-1806519
12161132306601-2954416

2022 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
11613304543281268262
21612404752292469158
316115046834012811358
41611504334082511256
51611504432831609154
616970408393159449
716970435354818446
816880475428478343
916880414390247241
10165110424395296733
11164120358517-1596325
12163130423591-1688323
13160160198752-554224

2021 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
116124054530524011463
21610605164644213558
3161150420321999457
41610604484192910454
5161051375378-37251
6161060382351317148
716970389317727447
816691409490-818539
9166100430464-349538
10165110411412-15530
11164120343461-1184626
12162140274550-2763213

2020 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
15500161108533023
2541015189622119
35410122129-71017
45320135102333116
5532013613152115
6523011611062212
75221125134-92012
85140139158-19419
9523098130-32019
105140138162-24228
115131104155-51107
12514099116-17026

2019 MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
11612314572961618461
21611414984059311258
31611504723621109457
4161150411320917455
5169704634036011653
616772456462-610143
7166100342498-1565130
8162122381517-1364521
9160160265482-217235

2018 MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
18710249165847134
28620232188445129
38530214201133124
48350269274-57322
58350224238-145118
68350209291-824117
78170216256-403411

Active Gold Players

PlayerPositionGPGSTCPDGMGTacklesKS/KAPts
Abe TurpenFlanker2000003700
Aidan KingFlanker9610008111405
Alejandro PradilloProp0000000000
Alex LopetiHooker, Prop106400010064020
Bart VermeulenProp820000154500
Caleb MakeneFly-half, Fullback0000000000
Callum BotcharFlanker, Lock520000303300
Cam DolanFlanker, Lock, Number 8770000616200
Chase JonesFlanker, Lock651000555705
Cian DarlingFlanker, Number 8210000122100
Cooper CoatsFly-half, Fullback76200051616010
Dalton MusselmanFly-half1000000000
Damian StevensScrum-half31100026805
Dorian JonesFly-half6601670159142353
Ed FidowWing77200037630010
Harley WheelerWing32200011014010
Isaac SalmonProp64000063300
Isaac Te TamakiCenter99300023264019
JP du PlessisCenter87200024765012
Jack WebsterCenter, Fullback, Wing11000024100
James ‘Doc’ IreyProp0000000000
Jarred AdamsProp40000061100
Joe Taufete’eHooker, Prop7320009655010
Jonah Mau’uFlanker, Number 81095000441121025
Julian RobertsCenter, Fly-half66300043922015
Kaden DuguidLock41000031400
Kélian GalletierFlanker, Number 8530000404300
Luke CampbellScrum-half10611001262817
Luke CartyFly-half73097064141639
Malcolm MayFlanker321000152005
Matt HarmonProp1190000156500
Moni Tonga’uihaFlanker98300012087015
Nikolai FoliakiCenter10810003125305
Osaiasi Tonga’uihaCenter, Flanker, Number 8310000111200
Pat O’TooleHooker22200010111010
Paul MullenProp1160000227000
Penalty Try0000000000
Reece BothaCenter, Fly-half6214007217413
Ross DepperschmidtCenter11000025700
Ruben de HaasScrum-half9410001331705
Tupou Ma’afu AfungiaNumber 8840000535400
Tyler MatchemProp41000011300
Vilimone KoroiFly-half, Fullback, Wing1000000000
William WaguespackLock840000425500
Xavier MignotWing88700039233035

All Gold Players

PlayerPositionGPGSTCPDGMGTacklesKS/KAPts
Aaron MatthewsCenter178400071986020
Abe TurpenFlanker2000003700
Aidan KingFlanker9610008111405
Alec JanotkaHooker20000042300
Alejandro PradilloProp0000000000
Alex LopetiHooker, Prop3487000493200037
Alex MaughanHooker, Prop320000152400
Amro GoudaHooker60000062100
Andrew GuerraFlanker, Number 81211100046817407
Ani MtetoFullback0000000000
Anthony ParryProp300000982200
Augusto BöhmeHooker98200019251010
Bart VermeulenProp13200001065800
Ben TarrProp2116100018311605
Billy StewartLock583820001417455010
Bobby Johns8500002783100
Brennan FalconFlanker5200001284500
Brian NaultProp208000019211000
Cael HodgsonCenter, Wing6510001793305
Caleb MakeneFly-half, Fullback0000000000
Caleb MeyerFlanker20000017600
Callum BotcharFlanker, Lock21112000217138010
Cam DolanFlanker, Lock, Number 87672150002319596075
Cam FalconHooker295100058515905
Cameron TroxlerFullback52300014232015
Carl MeyerFullback222262928018115357178
Chad JosephFlanker, Number 84300001243500
Chase JonesFlanker, Lock651000555705
Chase Schor-HaskinFlanker, Number 8100000181000
Christian AlvarezScrum-half2000007200
Cian DarlingFlanker, Number 8210000122100
Con FoleyCenter212130001033205015
Cooper CoatsFly-half, Fullback76200051616010
Dalton MusselmanFly-half1000000000
Damian StevensScrum-half502771810049711928103
Derrek van KleinProp710000653200
Devereaux FerrisScrum-half1430000711600
Devin ShortFlanker312430001325282017
Diego FortunyHooker202000364012
Dino WaldrenProp46286000618295032
Domingo SaavedraCenter0000000000
Dorian JonesFly-half1111125120374503791
Dougie FifeCenter, Fullback, Wing26252000129571010
Ed FidowWing1414700091063035
Eric HowardHooker5539150001237442075
Fintan ColemanFlanker10100001043800
Gabriel Mahu’ingaHooker0000000000
George SharpeHooker51000042100
Giovanni LappFlanker520000262400
Hanno DirksenWing139200084352010
Harley WheelerWing3728100001674160052
Holden YungertScrum-half43372410604230521
Hubert BuydensProp23212000423157010
Ignacio DottiLock362940001025272020
Isaac SalmonProp16120000938600
Isaac Te TamakiCenter99300023264019
JP EloffFly-half, Fullback3632858201278113779219
JP du PlessisCenter6663130004392615069
Jack WebsterCenter, Fullback, Wing17610003534405
James ‘Doc’ IreyProp25400002397900
James VaifaleWing0000000000
Jarred AdamsProp33212000845143010
Jay TuivaitiFlanker, Lock420000691300
Joe Taufete’eHooker, Prop7320009655010
Joeli TikoisuvaWing3019110001228117059
Joey SokWing21100036605
John SullivanProp31113000411180017
Jonah Mau’uFlanker, Number 82221110001275255057
Jordan Jackson-HopeCenter, Fly-half252582001723238246
Jordan TrainorFullback1092200104438214
Juan CappielloCenter302840001519225022
Julian RobertsCenter, Fly-half1710500079240025
Julián DomínguezWing191911000135269055
Kaden DuguidLock41000031400
Kane ThompsonLock2215000045114600
Kavika PeniataProp71000070700
Kenny JinkinsWing61000071900
Kevin O’ConnorFlanker12200001085300
Kevin SullivanProp591840001181306020
Kyle BaillieLock2020100061915105
Kyle RogersFullback17910002896205
Kélian GalletierFlanker, Number 8530000404300
Liam Hallam-EamesLock111100002577500
Lindsey StevensHooker311000411505
Lockie KratzCenter6400002211500
Luke CampbellScrum-half37308200809169246
Luke CartyFly-half73097064141639
Maciu KoroiNumber 83373000729187015
Malcolm MayFlanker604270001230456035
Mason BriantHooker1000000200
Matt HarmonProp8454100087549605
Matt HughstonFlanker88300042292015
Matt WirkenLock650000843000
Melvin DeSouzaWing1000000000
Michael BaskaFullback, Scrum-half, Wing196220041853214
Moni Tonga’uihaFlanker9778140004277876074
Myles McQuoneLock50000014800
Nate AugspurgerScrum-half, Wing0000000000
Nick FeakesFly-half, Fullback, Wing322192101610152352
Nikola BursicFlanker, Lock30225000997254025
Nikolai FoliakiCenter10810003125305
OJ NoaFlanker, Number 89910005227005
Osaiasi Tonga’uihaCenter, Flanker, Number 821300002466900
Pat O’TooleHooker5139170001470340087
Paul MullenProp1160000227000
Peceli RinakamaWing84200010335010
Penalty Try14141430000098
Reece BothaCenter, Fly-half291242160500832780
Robbie ColemanFly-half21211000120711705
Rodney IonaCenter, Fly-half2323430150124813545125
Rory EdwardsScrum-half1000000000
Ross DaviesProp1100008300
Ross DepperschmidtCenter47275000930198025
Ruben de HaasScrum-half9410001331705
Sam BuckleyProp0000000000
Sam KlimkowskiProp410000271600
Scott Gale17173300470110321
Sean ParanihiProp1816000017011100
Sebastiano VillaniScrum-half910000621600
Sebastián KalmNumber 822100039805
Shawn RileyWing420000431300
Tadhg LeaderFly-half10000011000
Taniela FilimoneCenter, Wing1717110001071101055
Taylor HowdenCenter21165410662122536
Taylor KrumreiLock540000703600
Tim MaupinCenter, Wing272560001461121030
Timothée GuilliminFly-half1412050037774510
Todd DupreFlanker2000007300
Tom FlorenceFlanker14145000780134029
Tony LambornFlanker112000419010
Trent RogersProp3000002900
Tristan BlewettCenter, Fullback, Wing1515120001349151060
Tupou Ma’afu AfungiaNumber 8840000535400
Tyler MatchemProp41000011300
Vilimone KoroiFly-half, Fullback, Wing1000000000
Vince Jobo1000000300
Vita MakasiniScrum-half300000451100
William WaguespackLock5424100065027805
Xavier MignotWing88700039233035
Zach StryffelerCenter, Flanker21172000639258010