San Diego Legion

Last updated

San Diego Legion
San diego legion logo.png
Full nameSan Diego Legion
Founded2017;7 years ago (2017)
Location San Diego, California
Ground(s) Snapdragon Stadium (Capacity: 35,000)
PresidentDavid Haigh
Coach(es) Danny Lee
Captain(s) Blair Cowan
Top scorer Joe Pietersen (177)
Most tries Mike Te'o (9)
League(s) Major League Rugby
2023 Runner-up
1st (Western Conference)
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1st kit
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2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
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The San Diego Legion are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR), based in San Diego, California. [1] [2] The Legion began play in the league's inaugural 2018 season. The team plays their home games at Snapdragon Stadium.

Contents

History

Luke Burton goal kicking Luke Burton, San Diego Legion..jpg
Luke Burton goal kicking

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.

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.[ citation needed ] YurView Channel 4 San Diego was the local broadcast partner for Legion games during its inaugural 2018 season, which concluded in June.[ citation needed ] Matt McCarthy and Marc Sterchbina are the commentators. [3]

Sponsorship

SeasonKit ManufacturerFront of Jersey Sponsor
2018 XBlades Sharp Business Systems
2019None
2020Paladin SportsNone
2021–2022 Ballast Point Brewing Company
2023Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

Players and personnel

Current squad

The San Diego Legion squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: [4]

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

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

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−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] Western1st5500161108+53323------Cancelled
2021 Western4th166010430464-341438------Did not qualify
2022 Western5th16808475428+478431011943-24Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 19–43
2023 Western1st161501554285+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 25 Austin Elite°AwayWon, 24–32
April 7 Houston SaberCats°HomeLost, 17–33
April 22 Seattle Seawolves AwayLost, 23–39
April 29 Utah Warriors HomeWon, 31–24
May 4Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 35–32
May 13 Glendale Raptors AwayLost, 27–31
May 25Austin EliteAwayLost, 5–31
June 9 New Orleans Gold AwayWon, 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 6 Life West AwayWon, 76–0
January 13 Glendale Raptors HomeLost, 31–38

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 27 Rugby United New York HomeLost, 23-25
February 2 Seattle Seawolves HomeWon, 17-13
February 9 Houston SaberCats HomeWon, 17-13
February 17 Utah Warriors HomeWon, 21–10
February 23 Austin Elite AwayWon, 45-17
March 10 Toronto Arrows HomeLost, 20-27
March 16 Glendale Raptors AwayDraw, 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 11 New Orleans Gold AwayWon, 26-19
May 18Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 31-21
June 2New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 22–10

Post season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9 Rugby United New York HomeWon, 24-22
June 16 Seattle Seawolves HomeLost, 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. [7] It was cancelled the following week [8]

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9 Seattle Seawolves HomeWon, 33–24
February 16 Colorado Raptors HomeWon, 49–22
February 23 New England Free Jacks HomeWon, 30–21
February 29 New Orleans Gold AwayWon, 25–21
March 8 Rugby United New York HomeWon, 24–20
March 15 Austin Gilgronis AwayCancelled
March 22 Old Glory DC HomeCancelled
March 27 Utah Warriors AwayCancelled
April 5 Houston SaberCats HomeCancelled
April 12Seattle SeawolvesAwayCancelled
April 26 Rugby ATL AwayCancelled
May 3Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled
May 10 Toronto Arrows AwayCancelled
May 16Houston SaberCatsAwayCancelled
May 25Utah WarriorsHomeCancelled
May 30Colorado RaptorsAwayCancelled

2021 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20 Rugby United New York HomeLost, 29–36
March 28 Austin Gilgronis AwayWon, 14–11
April 3 Rugby ATL AwayLost, 22–41
April 10 Houston SaberCats AwayLost, 32–34
April 17 Utah Warriors HomeWon, 31-29
April 24 LA Giltinis AwayLost, 17-45
May 1 New England Free Jacks HomeLost, 17-33
May 9 Seattle Seawolves AwayLost, 15-21
May 15 New Orleans Gold HomeWon, 43-17
May 29Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 39-11
June 6 Toronto Arrows AwayWon, 40-30
June 12Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 41-45
June 20LA GiltinisHomeLost, 13-19
June 26Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 14-33
July 3Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 34-21
July 10 Old Glory DC AwayLost, 38-29

2022 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6 Utah Warriors HomeWon, 39-21
February 12 Dallas Jackals HomeWon, 37-29
February 20 Seattle Seawolves HomeLost, 28-31
February 26 Houston SaberCats AwayWon, 31-20
March 6 Old Glory DC HomeWon, 24-12
March 13 Rugby New York AwayLost, 23-26
March 19 LA Giltinis AwayLost, 13-26
April 1Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 40-25
April 10 Austin Gilgronis HomeLost, 21-35
April 16Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 32-34
April 24 Rugby ATL HomeLost, 17-30
April 30Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 53-14
May 7Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 24-34
May 14LA GiltinisHomeWon, 31-27
May 21 NOLA Gold AwaayWon, 42-12
May 28Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 28-44

Post season

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West EliminatorJune 12 Seattle Seawolves AwayLost, 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 18 Utah Warriors Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 33-17
February 26 New England Free Jacks HomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 29-12
March 5 Houston SaberCats Away SaberCats Stadium Lost, 31-26
March 11 Dallas Jackals HomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 22-0
March 18 Rugby ATL Away Atlanta Silverbacks Park Won, 35-10
April 2 Old Glory DC HomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 48-26
April 8 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Complex Won, 23-20
April 16 Chicago Hounds HomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 48-24
April 22Dallas JackalsAway Choctaw Stadium Won, 47-38
April 30Houston SaberCatsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 29-16
May 6Utah WarriorsAway Zions Bank Stadium
May 13NOLA GoldAway Gold Mine
May 28 Rugby New York Ironworkers HomeSnapdragon Stadium
June 3Chicago HoundsAway SeatGeek Stadium
June 11 Toronto Arrows Away York Lions Stadium
June 18Seattle SeawolvesHomeSnapdragon Stadium

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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. ↑ 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)
    4. ↑ "San Diego Legion". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
    5. 1 2 3 "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
    6. ↑ "San Diego Legion Names Danny Lee Head Coach & Director of Rugby". August 11, 2021.
    7. ↑ "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.
    8. ↑ "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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