MLR Off-Season Update – NOLA Gold

It’s been another productive off-season for the NOLA Gold, whose holiday shopping list was taken care of well before the mad rush. With the hard work done off the field, the business of challenging for a first-ever playoff spot – if not title run – can now be the primary focus of a franchise on the rise.

2019 CAMPAIGN

After a disheartening 2018, the team rolled up their sleeves and raised their standards across the board in 2019. Some savvy recruiting – Tristan Blewett being a standout – and the improvement of returning talent like Billy Stewart pushed the team to the top of the charts in the first half of the campaign.

Unfortunately the second half of the season did not go as planned. Injuries to key forwards Ben Tarr and Kyle Baillie were particularly damaging while the form of others slipped somewhat. After their red-hot start, they lost five of the last six games and missed out on the Semi Finals by two points.

HOME VENUE

Archbishop Shaw Field was not a pretty sight in 2018, perhaps understandably so given the turf had hardly been laid on the ground when the team started playing there. Re-dubbed ‘Gold Stadium’ in 2019, there were significant upgrades but it was still on the lower end of the Major League Rugby spectrum.

The good news for NOLA fans was confirmed this week. A move to the opposite side of the Mississippi has been secured. The team will play at the re-purposed Shrine on Airline, a 10,000 seat stadium that has traded its baseball diamond for a rugby pitch. ‘The Gold Mine’ is an ambitious project but the upgrade in location and facilities should spark greater attendance in 2020.

COACHING STAFF

Only three teams have retained their Head Coach from 2018, one of those being the Gold. Nate Osborne is a popular figure in American rugby circles and a creative attacking coach. He has recently signed a new three-year deal that will see him leading the side through the 2022 season.

General Manager Ryan Fitzgerald has agreed to similar terms, with Todd Fitzgerald and former Lancashire hooker Charlie Baleirara counting among Osborne’s supporting cast. Renowned strength coach Ed Cosner heads up the conditioning department.

2020 ROSTER

Continuity is the keyword with the Gold tying with the Toronto Arrows for most returning players from 2019. Seven players are incoming with all adding quality. The front row has been boosted by South African hooker Cullen Collopy and US Eagles tighthead prop Dino Waldren, the latter combining with Tarr to give the Gold an impressive 1-2 punch on the right side.

In the backs there are three import additions. Carl Meyer, another South African, arrives from Wales and Robbie Coleman from Australia. Both add professional experience and versatility. The most recent arrival is Julián Domínguez, a dynamic young winger from Argentina who should be among the league’s best strike runners.

The departures list numbers 13 but most are part-timers or loan players who had little impact in 2019. Canadian prop Hubert Buydens is at the end of a distinguished career while flanker Zach Stryffeler has opted to step away from professional rugby. Three All-Americans will fill the gaps. Matt Harmon and Kevin Sullivan compete for the vacant No1 shirt with Kevin O’Connor, a late arrival in 2019, likely to start at openside flanker in his first full season with the club.

Michael Baska and Taylor Howden were match day regulars that have moved on to other MLR clubs. The rise in the salary cap has opened the door for Coleman and Meyer to take their roster spots.

WHAT’S MISSING

There aren’t many gaps on the roster. In terms of a match day 23, NOLA stands up to any in the league and there is exceptional depth in the the three-quarter line. Osborne is a fan of players able to fill multiple positions and he’ll depend on those to cover any possible concerns.

An extra front row player would not look out of place but with both Harmon and Cam Falcon able to cover prop and hooker, there is enough cover in the eight contracted senior players. The halfback situation is slightly unusual in that Holden Yungert and Scott Gale are the only specialists. Baska’s move to Utah leaves no natural backup scrumhalf so Gale is expected to see time there with Coleman, Nick Feakes, and JP Eloff all able to slot in where required.

RE-SIGNED (28):

Kevin Sullivan, LH
Doc Irey, LH
Matt Harmon, LH/HO
Eric Howard, HO
Cam Falcon, HO/TH
Ben Tarr, TH
Ignacio Dotti, LO
Billy Stewart, LO
Kane Thompson, LO
William Waguespack, LO
Nikola Bursic, LO/FL
Kyle Baillie, LO/FL
Malcolm May, FL
Kevin O’Connor, FL
John Sullivan, FL
Moni Tonga’uiha, FL
Cam Dolan, N8
Holden Yungert, SH
Scott Gale, FH
Ross Depperschmidt, CE
Con Foley, CE
Tristan Blewett, CE/WI
Tim Maupin, WI
Shawn Riley, WI
Joeli Tikoisuva, WI
Nick Feakes, WI/FB
JP Eloff, FB
Cameron Troxler, FB

IN (7):

Cullen Collopy, HO, Sharks (SA)
Dino Waldren, TH, San Diego Legion
Tabo Maree, N8, Arkansas State
Carl Meyer, CE/FB, Ebbw Vale (UK)
Robbie Coleman, CE/FB, Gordon (AU)
Julián Domínguez, WI, Pucará
Jonathan Poole, WI, Life Running Eagles

OUT (13):

Hubert Buydens, LH
Kavika Peniata, LH
Mason Briant, HO
Alex Maughan, HO/TH, Rugby ATL (return from loan)
Ross Davies, TH
Vince Jobo, FL
Tony Lamborn, FL, Blues (NZ)
Caleb Meyer, FL, Utah Warriors
Zack Stryffeler, FL
Michael Baska, SH, Utah Warriors
Tadhg Leader, FH, New England Free Jacks (return from loan)
Taylor Howden, FH/CE, Houston SaberCats
Bobby Johns, CE/WI