The 2025 season marked the successful relaunch of the NOLA Gold Junior Academy, with a renewed commitment to identifying and nurturing talented young rugby players across Louisiana. The primary goal of the program was clear: to provide high-potential athletes with access to elite-level coaching and playing opportunities, helping them develop both on and off the field.
The journey began in February with the inaugural Junior Academy Combine, where 70 players were assessed across a demanding afternoon that measured their physical, technical, and tactical abilities. Player performance during the combine, alongside their high school season contributions and feedback from school coaches, enabled NOLA Gold staff to select an initial squad of 40 standout athletes.
Over the following four months, this selected group trained bi-weekly under the guidance of NOLA Gold professional coaches and players. These sessions focused on improving core rugby skills, game understanding, and individual development, with each player challenged to raise their performance and game understanding.
Following the conclusion of the high school season, the program intensified with a competitive focus. On June 7th, the Junior Academy teams had the opportunity to showcase their growth as they faced off against the Houston Sabercats in a curtain-raiser event ahead of NOLA Gold match against New England. The U17 side delivered a standout performance, defeating a strong Houston team and avenging a previous 60-point loss earlier in the year. The U18 squad, while falling 56–7 to a highly physical and well-prepared Sabercats team, displayed resilience and grit throughout the contest.
The Academy then selected a representative squad to travel to Tennessee for the Panther Rugby UBS Invitational, where they competed in three matches over two days. While results were not in their favor—falling to Panther Rugby Academy (26–7), North Carolina All Stars (38–25), and Houston Sabercats (29–7)—the players demonstrated how far they had come in a short period, competing strongly against elite-level opposition. The experience highlighted their individual and collective growth as a young group of emerging players.
Overall, it was a highly encouraging debut season for the relaunched NOLA Gold Junior Academy. The program has laid a solid foundation for future success and created a pathway for young Louisiana talent to pursue a professional career in rugby.
A special thank you goes out to the high school coaches and programs that supported the initiative from the outset. Players from Jesuit, Brother Martin, Hammond, St. Paul’s, Curtis, and Baton Rouge were all represented—underlining the growing rugby footprint across the state.
The Junior Academy will now break for the summer before returning in the fall, with preparations beginning for a new competitive block scheduled to culminate in matches this December.
