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The New Orleans Gold have picked up an Olympian. Australian sevens star Con Foley will join the team for the 2019 Major League Rugby season on a one year deal. The 26-year-old joins a backline that includes new signings Tristan Blewett and Scott Gale as well as Eagles caps JP Eloff and Tim Maupin.
Comfortable at center or on the wing, Foley only recently switched his focus back to the XV-a-side game after spending six years as a forward with the Australia Sevens program. He appeared in more than 200 matches on the HSBC Sevens Series in 43 tournaments, most recently leading the side at the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens. Foley was part of Australia’s team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games side and the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Most recently Foley has been playing in Australia’s National Rugby Championship. He played with the Sydney Rays in 2016 and returned to his Shute Shield club Northern Suburbs in 2017. This season has seen him starting with Brisbane City in the NRC.
It’s a statement of intent from NOLA, whose lack of depth was exposed last year following injuries to key players. Foley adds considerable experience and leadership to the backline. Former Samoa lock Kane Thompson was added earlier this week and there is at least one more international forward to be announced by the team in the coming days.
