San Diego Legion

The San Diego Legion are a professional rugby union team based in San Diego, California, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The Legion began play in the league's inaugural 2018 season. The team plays their home games at Snapdragon Stadium.[1][2]

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
2023Runner-up
1st (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
Current season

History

Established in 2017, the San Diego Legion have represented San Diego since their inception. The Legion are one of seven founding teams in Major League Rugby.

The Legion were runner-ups in the 2019 and 2023 season championships.

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:[3]

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

Player Position Union
Cyrille Cama* Hooker Fiji
Chris Mickleson Hooker Australia
Hugh Roach Hooker Australia
Lolenisi Veimau Hooker United States
Chris Baumann Prop United States
Darcy Breen Prop Australia
Luke Green Prop England
Oliver Kane Prop United States
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop United States
Djustice Sears-Duru Prop Canada
Nathan Sylvia Prop United States
Payton Telea-Ilalio Prop United States
Brandon Harvey Lock United States
Charlie Hewitt Lock United States
Greg Peterson Lock United States
Isaac Ross Lock New Zealand
Jay Tuitivati Lock New Zealand
Tupou Afungia Back row Tonga
Brendan Amiatu-Tanoi Back row United States
Blair Cowan (c) Back row Scotland
Vili Helu Back row United States
Finn Kearns Back row Australia
Christian Poidevin* Back row Australia
Paddy Ryan Back row United States
Tevita Tameilau Back row United States
Chris Turori Back row United States
Player Position Union
Nick Boyer Scrum-half United States
Danny Christensen Scrum-half United States
Connor Tupai Scrum-half New Zealand
Matt Giteau Fly-half Australia
Josh Henderson Fly-half Scotland
Lincoln McClutchie Fly-half New Zealand
Harris Rutherford* Fly-half Scotland
Marcel Brache Centre United States
Luke Burton Centre Australia
Ethan Grayson Centre England
Alex Horan Centre Australia
Tiaan Loots Centre South Africa
Ma'a Nonu Centre New Zealand
Tomas Aoake Wing New Zealand
Ryan James Wing United States
Matai Leuta Wing United States
James Vaifale Wing United States
Filimoni Waqainabete Wing Fiji
Chris Mattina Fullback United States
Mike Te'o Fullback United States
  • 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
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.[6] It was cancelled the following week[7]

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

Regular season
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 StadiumWon, 26-16
May 13NOLA GoldAwayGold MineWon, 26-12
May 28Rugby New York IronworkersHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 36-13
June 3Chicago HoundsAwaySeatGeek StadiumWon, 36-14
June 11Toronto ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumWon, 50-17
June 18Seattle SeawolvesHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 40-19

Post Season
RoundDateOpponentLocationResult
West Conference FinalsJuly 2, 2023Seattle SeawolvesSnapdragon StadiumWon, 32-10
MLR Grand Final July 8, 2023 New England Free Jacks SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 25-24

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. "San Diego Legion". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
    4. "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
    5. "San Diego Legion Names Danny Lee Head Coach & Director of Rugby". August 11, 2021.
    6. "Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020". Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
    7. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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