Q: You’ve had a unique rugby journey: born in the United States, you moved to and began rugby in Brisbane, Australia, and then returned to the United States to play for Penn State. How would you describe your transition from Australia to the U.S. regarding rugby and culture?

Aidan King: It was a tough transition at first. You go from a country where rugby is the main sport to one where it’s much lower on the food chain. It’s different, but Penn State was a great spot for me. They had amazing facilities, and the guys around me cared just as much as the guys did in Australia. It provided me with an environment that allowed me to grow and ultimately led me here, so I don’t have any regrets about it.

Q: You scored a try in the game’s final minutes against the Chicago Hounds. What was going through your mind, especially after the previous try had been overturned?

Aidan King: I just wanted to get on the board for the team in any way possible. Going through a tough stretch and getting that win would’ve been good. Afterward, it was like, okay, let’s get back down there again. The situation should overcome the moment, but at that point, it was just, let’s get back in the game. And then, we were back in, and we’re two points away, so let’s go get a penalty and win it. 

Q: What were some of the biggest lessons you learned during your high school rugby days that still influence your game today?

Aidan King: I think just be adaptable with any teammate. You grow up with guys in an age group and play age group “footy” all the way up.  So you get comfortable with the guys, but when you hit the first 15, they’re the best in your school, no matter the age. In college, it’s the same thing. You have four years of guys, and here you have a decade’s worth of players with different experiences. I think the biggest thing is learning from the people around you and also learning from your coaches at the same time.

Q: You’ve had several standout achievements at Penn State, including being named MVP in back-to-back seasons. What do those accolades mean to you? 

Aidan King: For me, it was always just a physical thing representing the hard work that you put in. Here, you have a four-month off-season, during which I worked internships in engineering. Your training in the off-season often dictates how the seasons will go, so it was kind of just a reward for the hard work, but also recognition from my teammates and coaches telling me what I’m doing is right and to keep going on that path.

Q: You mentioned being excited to interact with the fans and community in New Orleans. What do you look forward to in building those connections?

Aidan King: I’m part of coaching in Gretna Park, and that’s been great. Many of those kids come to the game, and you see them afterward. It’s nice to coach them to get involved in their lives and know what’s happening there. I know a few of them are performing at Jazz Fest, so I’ll watch them perform, and they will come out and watch us. Some of them are five and six years old, so no matter how young they are, getting to interact with them and their parents one-on-one is great. Plus, you get to understand what’s happening in their life, and they get to learn more about the team and what’s happening with us. It’s good to get that side of it because you didn’t get that at a college level. 

Q: Being a rookie in the league, what has been most exciting about your first season with NOLA GOLD?

Aidan King: I’ve loved how, especially at NOLA, it’s not the same on all teams, how tight-knit the group is, and how the group runs the facility as a whole. Our gym is here, and all our staff is here, including front office staff, coaches, and everyone. It allows us to get closer together and doesn’t require us to travel, putting us in an environment to succeed. Even at Penn State, you’re going across campus. It just puts me in an environment where I can focus on rugby and be in one area. Also, all the older guys on the team have been so helpful. I used to stress out a lot at the beginning, and they were good at calming me down, helping me learn, and getting me back into a good mindset. 

Q: You play Flanker; tell us about your breakdown technique.

Aidan King: It’s about picking your opportunities. Growing up, I watched players like David Pocock, who, for me, I always looked up to. He even went to the same high school as me. So you look up to those guys and watch them play. Nowadays, you see players like Fraser McReight and how they get over the ball. It’s about picking your moments right and not just going at every breakdown. You know, you’d be able to read every breakdown. I know I got Moni inside; he’s a great chop tackler. Jonah’s a great chop tackler; they’ll roll out quickly, which gives me time to get over the ball. Whereas, if they’re not as quick to get out of the breakdowns or if you can see they’re gonna get trapped leaving it, you can read that. Just thinking two steps ahead and predicting what’s going to happen. 

Q: Tell us about winning the U15 Junior Gold Cup.

Aidan King: It was pretty fun; it was a while ago, to be honest. That was my first taste of representative rugby. It was nice because you get caught up with college here; you play with those guys so much at school. In a club, it’s a culmination of a bunch of different guys, so those opportunities when you’re young give you this experience of playing with guys with different play styles you’re not used to and adapting quickly to a new environment and coaching staff. 

Q: What made you choose Mechanical Engineering as your major at Penn State?  

Aidan King: I’ve always loved engineering. I thought about doing medicine, did an internship, and decided I didn’t want to do that and liked engineering more. I always liked the math side of it all. I never saw it as a pain. In college, I enjoyed my classes and what I did. In the off seasons, I know there’s a lot of rugby stuff, but I’ve always just wanted to get an internship and apply what I’ve learned and work in that. A big part of it is that I love research as well, so I did research with the Human Center of Robotics Lab, which allowed me to do stuff that I could see coming into sports, but also, it gets you away from it and gives you something to work on. Also, my parents are engineers, and my sister is an engineer, so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

Q: Do you have any memories of Anchorage, Alaska?

Aidan King: I have a fair few memories. I learned how to ski and snowboard there. We still have a place up in Girdwood. Alyeska is the ski resort; it’s about 45 minutes north of Anchorage. I went up this Christmas with the family and brought my girlfriend from Penn State. We still get up there quite a bit; we have many family and friends there. I worked there for two of my internship summers. I’ve gotten back there a little more in later years.