NOLA Gold have re-signed versatile back Ross Depperschmidt on a two-year deal through the 2024 Major League Rugby season. At the same time the club has traded scrumhalf Christian Alvarez to the Austin Gilgronis in exchange for salary cap considerations.
Depperschmidt initially joined the Gold at the end of the 2019 season but had to wait until 2020 to make his MLR debut. This past year he played 12 matches, doubling his previous total, including 6 starts. The 29-year-old has proven a reliable option at either center or wing, and recently earned ‘Top 7’ honors at the Premier Rugby Sevens tournament in DC.
Alvarez, 24, was selected in the second round of the 2021 Collegiate Draft and made two replacement appearances in 2022. He had previously lined up for the American Raptors. With the addition of Sebastiano Villani as the second-overall pick in this year’s Collegiate Draft, Alvarez will seek more opportunities for game time with the Austin franchise.