NOLA Gold have signed Canadian prospect Lockie Kratz for the remainder of the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 21-year-old center secured a contract after a brief trial and joins two senior Canada players in Eric Howard and Kyle Baillie on the roster.
Kratz represented Canada at the 2018 and 2019 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournaments and could have attended a third had the competition not been cancelled in 2020. He has also been a standout at sevens, competing at the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas.
Raised in Victoria, Kratz was born in San Diego and remains eligible to represent the Eagles though he appears committed to wearing the Maple Leaf. Older brother Gavin, a prop and sometimes lock, has also played for Canada u20s and both have turned out for the UVic Vikes at collegiate level.