METAIRIE, La. — One of Major League Rugby's founding members, the NOLA Gold kicks off its seventh season with one goal in mind – playoffs or bust.
With new expectations – and a new head coach – the Gold are hoping to make the postseason for the first time in team history.
“Our goal at the end of the year is to is to make the playoffs," said first-year Gold coach Cory Brown. "And all of [the players] spoke about making the playoffs and how having six years and no playoffs is just not good enough”
U.S. National Team veteran Tesimoni Tongauiha, who has been with the Gold since Day 1, echoed Coach Brown's comments.
"We're not even focused on anything else, it's just playoffs and winning." the recently named team captain told WWL Louisiana after practice on Thursday. "We've been coming up short the past couple of years. And I think the front office and organization just had enough. I mean, as a player being here from the beginning, I had enough.
"I think as a captain, and first-year captain, I'm pushing it like for us to win, win, win, win," Tongauiha continued. "That's our mentality now.”
As for Brown, he becomes the Gold's third head coach in seven seasons. However, the longtime international rugby player and coach from New Zealand feels he's suited to bring out the best in this year's squad which includes players from 15 different countries.
“I've played rugby for a long time," Brown told WWL Louisiana. "I've coached rugby in lots of different countries. From coaching in Europe, from coaching in Georgia, coaching in Australia and New Zealand, Japan. So, from all of those experiences, I've got things over time that I know that work, that works well, and hopefully, I can pass that on and give the players real clarity in how we want to play the game.”
Brown heralded veterans JP du Plessis, midfielder from South Africa, and fellow Kiwi Jarred Adams (fullback). He also likes what he sees so far in
"Those two are really experienced good rugby players," Brown said of du Plessis and Adams. "They bring a lot of a lot of passion and a lot of commitment to what they're doing.
"There's players in the back there that are doing really well. Jordan Jackson-Hope (midfielder) is a talented, skillful player. He sees and attacks space well and makes really good decisions," he continued. "And we have a couple of new loose forwards with OJ Noa and Jonah Mau'u who are really physical, really confrontational, and are going to be on the ball all the time."
The NOLA Gold kicks off its 16-game schedule on Saturday against Old Glory DC (Washington) at the Gold Mine on Airline (formerly Zephyr Stadium, Shrine on Airline).
Start time is 3 p.m.
Watch the complete interviews with Coach Brown, Captain Tongauiha and other members of the NOLA Gold roster below:
Coach Cory Brown, head coach
Tesimoni Tongauiha, loose forward
JP du Plessis, midfielder
Jarred Adams, fullback
2024 NOLA Gold schedule
March 2 – Old Glory DC, 3 p.m.
March 9 – Anthem RC, 3 p.m.
March 16 – at New England Free Jacks, 1 p.m.
March 23 – at Dallas Jackals. 7:30 p.m.
April 6 – Chicago Hounds, 3 p.m.
April 14 – at San Diego Legion, 3 p.m.
April 20 – Miami Sharks, 3 p.m.
TBD – at Anthem RC
May 11 – Seattle Seawolves, 2 p.m.
May 18 – Utah Warriors, 7 p.m.
May 26 – at Chicago Hounds, 1 p.m.
June 1 – Houston Sabercats, 7 p.m.
June 9 – at Miami Sharks, 5 p.m.
June 16 – at RFC Los Angeles, 5 p.m.
June 22 – New England Free Jacks, 5 p.m.
June 29 – at Old Glory DC, 6 p.m.
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