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The NOLA Gold have confirmed the acquisition of midfielder JP du Plessis from the San Diego Legion. He arrives as part of a trade deal that loosely involves three teams, and has signed on with New Orleans though the 2024 Major League Rugby season.
Prior to the move, NOLA sent hooker Lindsey Stevens to the LA Giltinis in exchange for additional salary cap headroom and LA’s 2nd round draft pick Stephen McLeish. The Gold then sent the cap space to San Diego in a straight swap for the rights to du Plessis.
It’s the second trade involving NOLA and San Diego in the off-season. The first saw promising flanker Devin Short moving from the Legion to the Gold with an extra foreign player slot going the other way.
San Diego have freed up significant space under the salary cap but they will need to spend it wisely with both their starting centers in 2020 – du Plessis and Ma’a Nonu – now heading through the exit door. They may look to spend it elsewhere however with internationals Dylan Audsley, Ryan Matyas, and Josh Thiel returning in 2021.
du Plessis has been one of MLR’s premier centers since arriving ahead of the inaugural 2018 campaign. He joins a fearsome NOLA backs division that has also added experience in Damian Stevens, Juan Cappiello, and Kyle Rogers in the off-season.
Lindsey Stevens will reunite with coach Darren Coleman at Los Angeles, whom Stevens played under at Eastern Suburbs. He is currently playing for Easts in the Shute Shield while Coleman is coaching first-place Gordon before making the move stateside at season’s end.
McLeish moves to his second MLR club before even playing a game. The 21-year-old Lindenwood product has played for the USA at u20 level and was a Rudy Scholz Award nominee this past year as one of the best players in collegiate rugby. He slots in behind established veterans Eric Howard and Cam Falcon in the Gold’s pecking order at hooker.
