First-place NOLA Gold hosts Rugby Union New York Saturday

The first-place NOLA Gold closes out a season-opening four-match home stand against one of the two new entries into Major League Rugby in 2019, Rugby Union New York, at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gold Stadium.

In addition to holding down first place in the MLR table with 15 points, NOLA is the highest-scoring team in the league, scoring 36, 40 and 41 points in victories over Toronto, Glendale and Seattle, respectively. No other team in MLR has scored more than 35 points in any single match this season.

NOLA Gold vice captain JP Eloff is the league’s leading scorer after three weeks with 38 points, including a try, nine conversions and four penalty goals.

Taylor Howden and Tristan Blewett share the league lead with three tries each. Scott Gale also has a pair of tries for NOLA.

Zack Stryffeler leads MLR with 54 tackles, while Con Foley ranks fourth with 45 and Blewett fifth with 41.
NOLA also figures to benefit from the addition of Tony Lamborn to the lineup this week. Lamborn, a member of the USA Eagles since 2016, has 18 caps and seven tries in international competition.

New York has played only one match to date, winning 25-23 at San Diego on Jan. 27.

Saturday’s match will be televised by CST.

After Saturday, NOLA plays its next two matches on the road – March 2 at Utah and March 16 at Houston – before returning home March 23 to meet Austin Elite.