Experienced Center Ross Depperschmidt Signs with Old Glory

By Alistair Kirsch-Poole
Jan 19, 2026 - 4:00pm

Old Glory has announced the signing of Ross Depperschmidt, an experienced center who previously played for the NOLA Gold. The 33-year-old will be starting his seventh season in Major League Rugby, and his first for a team other than NOLA.

Born in Texas, he played football and baseball in high school before picking up rugby in college at the University of Alabama. He quickly became a force to be reckoned with there, eventually becoming the vice-president of the club. While a graduate student, he trained in New Zealand for a few months and toured with the USA Rugby South Selects in a conscious effort to raise his level, while also coaching at his alma mater.

In 2019 he joined the NOLA Gold academy, playing for them in the offseason and preseason. In 2020, he got his break with the senior squad, playing 2 matches, 1 of them starting for 138 minutes on the pitch. In 2021 he improved that only slightly, with 2 matches, both starts, for 159 minutes played.

It was in 2022 that he got his break, with 12 caps, 6 starts, and 434 minutes on the pitch. He would up that the next two seasons, with 14 caps, 8 starts, and 774 minutes in 2023 and 15 caps, 9 starts, and 790 minutes in 2024. Last season was a bit of a down year for him, though, with just 3 caps and 199 minutes played.

Primarily an outside center, he has also played a fair share of his matches on the wing, making him a flexible option. His biggest competition is likely to be John Powers, who is five years younger but also five years less experienced.