An exclusive interview with Julian Roberts
NOLA Gold’s Julian Roberts reflects on clinching third place, upcoming matchups, playing against his brother, balancing fatherhood, mentoring rookies, and life in the MLR—plus some fun rapid-fire favorites.
Q: Let’s talk about the Seattle match. We took the win and clinched third in the East. What was the locker room like after that win?
Julian Roberts: After the win, everybody was excited. It was a chance for us to get back in the win column against a good opponent, so the vibes were good.
Q: What is the team expecting for the upcoming match-up against San Diego?
Julian Roberts: Just a good performance. A back-to-back win would be good for our club and our momentum throughout the end of the season. We’re looking to put in a good shift that all the boys can be proud of.
Q: What’s the dynamic like between you and your brother, since you will be competing against one another on May 13 when NOLA Gold travels to Old Glory?
Julian Roberts: Yeah. We don’t say much about it. I don’t have a grudge against him if we are playing each other or vice versa. It’s kinda just cool to play against each other and growing up, playing with each other. So, it will be cool, and I won’t take it easy on him.
Q: What’s your approach to positioning when defending against a team with fast wingers?
Julian Roberts: Just making sure I’m there. I want to be at least in front of them before they get a full head of steam, because once fast wingers get going, it’s pretty hard to stop. My teammates help me out a lot to help me cover those guys, so kudos to them.
Q: The team has the habit of coming out strong in the first half but getting into trouble in the second. How are you all working to ensure you remain consistent throughout the matches and don’t let teams come back?
Julian Roberts: We’ve discussed this as a team and noticed that we tend to slack off when we come in after halftime. We have put some principles in place so that we don’t let soft moments come after halftime. Matt Harmon gets us going before we go back onto the pitch. And then our captain, Moni, has a few words that get us fired up, and then we kind of just do our own individual things that prepare us to make sure that we are not coming out flat in the second half.
Q: How do you balance being a father and a professional athlete?
Julian Roberts: It’s tough. Especially being a new dad and being new to the league, but my support system and recent fiancée have been a big help. She does all the hard work for me, so I can go about doing my job in rugby. It’s cool to be in this league and be a dad and share that experience with all the other teammates.
Q: Looking back, what moment made you realize you could go pro in rugby?
Julian Roberts: I think my first year playing at Life University. We went to the National Championship in 2019, and I had a decent season for my first year, so I told myself if I work for it, then I can make a living at it and be a pro one day.
Q: Are there any younger players on the squad who are part of your buddy system?
Julian Roberts: Yes, Dalton Musselman (spelling), recent draft pick. He reminds me of myself when I first started and was trying to get familiar with being a professional, so I’ve been trying to help him with that.
Q: What’s been your favorite stadium or city to travel to in the MLR so far?
Julian Roberts: Miami is pretty nice. We use the same locker rooms as Lionel Messi, and Miami is just a beautiful place.
Q: Five years from now, where do you hope to be in your rugby journey?
Julian Roberts: Maybe still here in New Orleans, but if the opportunity presents itself, somewhere overseas, I would like to get the experience in Japan or New Zealand.
Rapid fire questions
Spam Musubi or Loco Moco?
Spam Musubi.
Your birthday is coming up on May 11th – What is your cake of choice?
It’s a good coffee cake with coffee ice cream.
If you could be any animal, what would you choose?
I would have to choose a turtle.
Favorite musician?
Probably J Boog.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
My Way by Frank Sinatra.
Stay tuned for more exclusive Gold Talk interviews as we follow NOLA GOLD’s journey through the season! Plus, don’t miss out on the action—get your tickets now and cheer on NOLA GOLD at their next home match!
