Matt Hughston joins NOLA Gold

The New Orleans Gold have added another player for the 2018 Major League Rugby season in the form of Matt Hughston. A versatile player skilled as both a flanker or center, the 28-year-old who hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, is well known in American rugby circles having represented the Junior All-Americans at the 2009 IRB (World Rugby) Junior World Trophy and has since been a regular with the USA South Panthers. In 2016 Hughston starred with the Ohio Aviators of PRO Rugby, considered by many to be the form flanker in the competition before a jaw injury ended his season prematurely.

Also confirmed by the team in recent days is former LSU inside back Bobby Johns and Fijian playmaker Peceli Rinakama. They join high profile Canadian international signings Hubert Buydens and Eric Howardon a roster slowly beginning to take shape. Other players already confirmed in the team are Derrek van Klein, Cam Falcon, Alex Czajkowski, Conor Bertrand, and Moni Tonga’uiha.