San Diego Legion

The San Diego Legion is an American professional rugby union team based in San Diego, California.[1][2] The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby.[3]

San Diego Legion
Full nameSan Diego Legion
Founded2017 (2017)
LocationSan Diego, California
Ground(s)Snapdragon Stadium (Capacity: 35,000)
PresidentDavid Haigh
Coach(es)Danny Lee
Captain(s)Blair Cowan
Top scorerJoe Pietersen (177)
Most triesMike Te'o (9)
League(s)Major League Rugby
20225th (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
Current season

Home field

The team plays at Snapdragon Stadium, which is located on the campus of the San Diego State University in Mission Valley and has a seating capacity of 35,000.[4] The stadium is also the home of San Diego State Aztecs football and San Diego Wave FC.[5] Due to the restrictions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the team temporarily relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 2021 season.[6] However, they would return to San Diego on April 12, 2021.[7][8]

Broadcasts

Select Legion 2021 home and away Major League Rugby games not already broadcast nationally on the CBS Sports Network are televised locally on FOX 5 San Diego and also streamed live on ESPN+ and archived on Legion's YouTube channel. YurView Channel 4 San Diego was the local broadcast partner for Legion games during its inaugural 2018 season, which concluded in June. Matt McCarthy and Marc Sterchbina are the commentators.[9]

Sponsorship
Season Kit Manufacturer Front of Jersey Sponsor
2018 XBlades Sharp Business Systems
2019 None
2020 Paladin Sports None
2021–2022 Ballast Point Brewing Company
2023 Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § San Diego Legion.

The San Diego Legion squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Shilo Klein* Hooker New Zealand New Zealand
Sama Malolo Hooker Samoa Samoa
Sean McNulty* Hooker Ireland Ireland
Chris Baumann Prop United States United States
Luke Green Prop England England
Joe Hawthorne Prop United States United States
Oliver Kane Prop United States United States
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop United States United States
Djustice Sears-Duru Prop Canada Canada
Nathan Sylvia Prop United States United States
Tom Franklin Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Ben Grant Lock Australia Australia
Jale Railala Lock Fiji Fiji
James Rivers Lock England England
Isaac Ross Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Tupou Afungia Back row Tonga Tonga
Aminae Amiatu-Tanoi Back row United States United States
Blair Cowan (c) Back row Scotland Scotland
Vili Helu Back row United States United States
Finn Kearns Back row Australia Australia
Malakai Latu Back row American Samoa American Samoa
Christian Poidevin Back row Australia Australia
Dan Pryor Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Michael Ramos Back row United States United States
Michael Smith Back row Canada Canada
Tevita Tameilau Back row United States United States
Chris Turori Back row United States United States
Player Position Union
Nate Augspurger Scrum-half United States United States
Danny Christensen Scrum-half United States United States
Jason Higgins Scrum-half Canada Canada
Richard Judd Scrum-half New Zealand New Zealand
Josh Henderson Fly-half Scotland Scotland
Alex Horan Fly-half Australia Australia
Luke Burton Centre Australia Australia
Tiaan Loots Centre South Africa South Africa
Thomas Morani Centre United States United States
Ma'a Nonu Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Filimoni Waqainabete Centre Fiji Fiji
Tyren Al-Jiboori Wing United States United States
Tomas Aoake Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Mike Te'o Wing United States United States
Marcel Brache Fullback United States United States
Matías Freyre Fullback Argentina Argentina
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings
San Diego Legion at Torero Stadium in 2018
Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2018 - 3rd8503214201+134241012438-14Lost Semifinal (Seattle Seawolves) 24–38
2019 - 1st161213457296+16112612114748-1Won Semifinal (Rugby United New York) 24–22
Lost Major League Rugby final (Seattle Seawolves) 23-26
2020[lower-alpha 1] Western 1st5500161108+53323------Cancelled
2021 Western 4th166010430464-341438------Did not qualify
2022 Western 5th16808475428+478431011943-24Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 19–43
2023 Western 1st161501554285+26914742115635+21Won Conference Final (Seattle Seawolves) 32-10
Lost Major League Rugby final New England Free Jacks 25-24
Totals77511251,9911,682+30955263624146164-184 playoff appearances

Notes
  1. 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honors

2018 season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 25Austin Elite°AwayWon, 24–32
April 7Houston SaberCats°HomeLost, 17–33
April 22Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 23–39
April 29Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 31–24
May 4Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 35–32
May 13Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 27–31
May 25Austin EliteAwayLost, 5–31
June 9New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 39–22
June 17Austin EliteHomeWon, 31–17
June 23Glendale RaptorsHomeWon, 23–5
June 30Seattle Seawolves°°NeutralLost, 24–38

° = Exhibition game
°° = Playoff semifinals at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 6Life WestAwayWon, 76–0
January 13Glendale RaptorsHomeLost, 31–38

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 27Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 23-25
February 2Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 17-13
February 9Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 17-13
February 17Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 21–10
February 23Austin EliteAwayWon, 45-17
March 10Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 20-27
March 16Glendale RaptorsAwayDraw, 28-28
March 31Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 28-22
April 7Austin EliteHomeWon, 45-15
April 14Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 29–19
April 20Glendale RaptorsHomeWon, 46–15
April 28Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 41-19
May 5Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 19-23
May 11New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 26-19
May 18Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 31-21
June 2New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 22–10

Post season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 24-22
June 16Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 23–26

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[12] It was cancelled the following week[13]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 33–24
February 16Colorado RaptorsHomeWon, 49–22
February 23New England Free JacksHomeWon, 30–21
February 29New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 25–21
March 8Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 24–20
March 15Austin GilgronisAwayCancelled
March 22Old Glory DCHomeCancelled
March 27Utah WarriorsAwayCancelled
April 5Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled
April 12Seattle SeawolvesAwayCancelled
April 26Rugby ATLAwayCancelled
May 3Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled
May 10Toronto ArrowsAwayCancelled
May 16Houston SaberCatsAwayCancelled
May 25Utah WarriorsHomeCancelled
May 30Colorado RaptorsAwayCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 29–36
March 28Austin GilgronisAwayWon, 14–11
April 3Rugby ATLAwayLost, 22–41
April 10Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 32–34
April 17Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 31-29
April 24LA GiltinisAwayLost, 17-45
May 1New England Free JacksHomeLost, 17-33
May 9Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 15-21
May 15New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 43-17
May 29Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 39-11
June 6Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 40-30
June 12Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 41-45
June 20LA GiltinisHomeLost, 13-19
June 26Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 14-33
July 3Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 34-21
July 10Old Glory DCAwayLost, 38-29

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 39-21
February 12Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 37-29
February 20Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 28-31
February 26Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 31-20
March 6Old Glory DCHomeWon, 24-12
March 13Rugby New YorkAwayLost, 23-26
March 19LA GiltinisAwayLost, 13-26
April 1Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 40-25
April 10Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 21-35
April 16Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 32-34
April 24Rugby ATLHomeLost, 17-30
April 30Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 53-14
May 7Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 24-34
May 14LA GiltinisHomeWon, 31-27
May 21NOLA GoldAwaayWon, 42-12
May 28Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 28-44

Post season
See also: 2022 Major League Rugby playoffs
RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West EliminatorJune 12Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 19–43

2023 season

The San Diego Legion will play 16 games in the 2023 season. Home games will be played at Snapdragon Stadium.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 18Utah WarriorsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 33-17
February 26New England Free JacksHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 29-12
March 5Houston SaberCatsAwaySaberCats StadiumLost, 31-26
March 11Dallas JackalsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 22-0
March 18Rugby ATLAwayAtlanta Silverbacks ParkWon, 35-10
April 2Old Glory DCHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 48-26
April 8Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire Sports ComplexWon, 23-20
April 16Chicago HoundsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 48-24
April 22Dallas JackalsAwayChoctaw StadiumWon, 47-38
April 30Houston SaberCatsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 29-16
May 6Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank Stadium
May 13NOLA GoldAwayGold Mine
May 28Rugby New York IronworkersHomeSnapdragon Stadium
June 3Chicago HoundsAwaySeatGeek Stadium
June 11Toronto ArrowsAwayYork Lions Stadium
June 18Seattle SeawolvesHomeSnapdragon Stadium

References
    1. "Major League Rugby nears kick-off as next attempt to make US a union power". The Guardian. UK. November 17, 2017. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
    2. Nelson, Ronan (January 18, 2018). "MLRs San Diego Legion Holds Combine". Rugby Wrap Up. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
    3. "Irishman Leader's path leads him into USA's Major League Rugby". The 42. January 14, 2018. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    4. "San Diego Legion confirm coaches and home field". Americas Rugby News. February 16, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
    5. "Pro rugby finds a home in San Diego", San Diego Union-Tribune, Tod Leonard, 2016-05-14.
    6. "Legion to Call Vegas Home for 2021 MLR Season". KNSD. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
    7. "San Diego Legion Returns Home to San Diego, CA". Major League Rugby. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
    8. Tripp, Darnay (February 2, 2022). "Legion to Play at Snapdragon Stadium Beginning in 2023". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
    9. Ornsby, Daniel. [eyeonskyandairsports.blogspot.com/2021/03/2021-major-league-rugby-week-1-national.html "2021 Major League Rugby Week 1 National TV & Streaming Schedule"]. Eye On Sky and Air Sports. Dan Ornsby. Retrieved March 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
    10. "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
    11. "San Diego Legion Names Danny Lee Head Coach & Director of Rugby". August 11, 2021.
    12. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
    13. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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