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)
PresidentMatthew Always Throws Straight Keay
Coach(es)Danny Lee
Captain(s)Ma’a Nonu
Top scorerJoe Pietersen (177)
Most triesMike Te'o (9)
League(s)Major League Rugby
20214th (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
Current season
Legion former home field, Torero Stadium.

Home field

The team plays at SDSU Sports Deck, which is located on the campus of the San Diego State University and has a seating capacity of 1,500.[4] The stadium was also the home field of the former PRO Rugby team the San Diego Breakers in 2016.[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]

On February 2, 2022, the Legion announced that their 2023 season would be played at the still under construction Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley, San Diego.[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–present Ballast Point Brewing Company

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § San Diego Legion.

The San Diego Legion team for the 2022 Major League Rugby season is:[10]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Peter Malcolm Hooker United States
Matt Moulds Hooker New Zealand
Chris Schade Hooker United States
Dillon Shotwell Hooker United States
Chris Baumann Prop United States
Pat Lynott Prop Canada
Nathan Sylvia Prop United States
Hencus van Wyk Prop South Africa
Joe Walsh Prop New Zealand
Jonah Dietenberger Lock United States
Ben Grant Lock Australia
Ben Mitchell Lock United States
Jale Railala Lock Fiji
Derrick Broussard Back row Philippines
Ayemere Oiyemhonlan Back row United States
Rohan O'Regan Back row Australia
Dan Pryor Back row New Zealand
Chris Robshaw Back row England
Michael Smith Back row Canada
Tevita Tameilau Back row United States
Chris Turori Back row United States
Player Position Union
Nate Augspurger (c) Scrum-half United States
Nico Gilli Scrum-half United States
Jason Higgins Scrum-half Canada
Will Hooley Fly-half United States
Patrick Madden Fly-half United States
Dominick Iacovino Centre United States
Tiaan Loots Centre South Africa
Thomas Morani* Centre Argentina
Ma'a Nonu Centre New Zealand
Josh Thiel Centre Canada
Tomas Aoake Wing New Zealand
Bjorn Basson Wing South Africa
Kainoa Lloyd Wing Canada
Ryan Matyas Wing United States
Marcus Tupuola Wing United States
Matías Freyre Fullback Argentina
Joe Pietersen Fullback South Africa
  • Senior 15s 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
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
2018 3rd 8503214201+13424   Lost semi-final 24–38 to Seattle Seawolves
2019 1st 161213457296+1611261  Lost championship final 23–26 to Seattle Seawolves
2020 1st 5500161108+53323  Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic
2021 4th 166010430464-341438  4th in Conference, 9th overall

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.[13] It was cancelled the following week[14]

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

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. "San Diego Legion". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
    11. "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
    12. https://djcoilrugby.com/2021/08/11/san-diego-legion-names-danny-lee-head-coach-director-of-rugby/
    13. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
    14. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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