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
Las Vegas, Nevada[lower-alpha 1]
Ground(s)Torero Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)
Coach(es)Scott Murray (Co-head coach/forwards)
Zack Test (Co-head coach/backs)
Captain(s)Joe Pietersen
Top scorerJoe Pietersen (177)
Most triesMike Te'o (9)
League(s)Major League Rugby
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
Current season
Legion home field, Torero Stadium.

Home field

The team plays at Torero Stadium, which is located on the campus of the University of San Diego and has a seating capacity of 6,000.[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]

Broadcasts

Select Legion 2019 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. Marc Stcherbina and Pete Steinberg were the on air talent.

Sponsorship
Season Kit Manufacturer Front of Jesery Sponsor
2018 XBlades Sharp Business Systems
2019 None
2020 Paladin None
2021 Ballast Point Brewing Company

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2021 season, see List of 2020–21 Major League Rugby transfers § San Diego Legion.

The San Diego Legion team for the 2021 Major League Rugby season is:[7]

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
Dean Muir Hooker South Africa
Cronan Gleeson Prop Ireland
Lua Li Prop New Zealand
Aaron Mitchell Prop United States
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop United States
Nathan Sylvia Prop United States
Hencus van Wyk Prop South Africa
Josh Furno Lock Italy
Siaosi Mahoni Lock United States
Ben Mitchell* Lock Ireland
Travis Larsen Flanker Canada
Chris Robshaw Flanker England
Michael Smith Flanker Canada
Psalm Wooching Flanker United States
Keni Nasoqeqe* Number 8 Fiji
Tevita Tameilau Number 8 United States
Player Position Union
Nate Augspurger Scrum-half United States
Santiago González Iglesias Fly-half Argentina
Patrick Madden Fly-half United States
Joe Pietersen (c) Fly-half South Africa
Dylan Audsley Centre United States
Cam Clark Centre Australia
Ryan Matyas Centre United States
Josh Thiel Centre Canada
Bjorn Basson Wing South Africa
Save Totovosau Wing Fiji
Cole Zarcone Wing United States
Cecil Afrika Fullback South Africa
  • 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
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

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.[9] It was cancelled the following week[10]

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

References
  1. Team has temporarily relocated for the 2021 season.
  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.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". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  9. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  10. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.


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