San Diego Legion

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San Diego Legion
San diego legion logo.png
Full nameSan Diego Legion
Founded2017; 5 years ago (2017)
Location San Diego, California
Ground(s) Snapdragon Stadium (Capacity: 35,000)
PresidentMatthew Always Throws Straight Keay
Coach(es) Danny Lee
Captain(s) Ma’a Nonu
Top scorer Joe Pietersen (177)
Most tries Mike Te'o (9)
League(s) Major League Rugby
20214th (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
Rugby football current event.svg Current season
Legion former home field, Torero Stadium.

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]

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.[ 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. [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
James Hilterbrand Hooker United States United States
Peter Malcolm Hooker United States United States
Matt Moulds Hooker New Zealand New Zealand
Chris Schade Hooker United States United States
Dillon Shotwell Hooker United States United States
Chris Baumann Prop United States United States
Pat Lynott Prop Canada Canada
Nathan Sylvia Prop United States United States
Hencus van Wyk Prop South Africa South Africa
Joe Walsh Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Jonah Dietenberger Lock United States United States
Ben Grant Lock Australia Australia
Ben Mitchell Lock United States United States
Jale Railala Lock Fiji Fiji
Derrick Broussard Back row Philippines Philippines
Ayemere Oiyemhonlan Back row United States United States
Rohan O'Regan Back row Australia Australia
Dan Pryor Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Chris Robshaw Back row England England
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 ( c) Scrum-half United States United States
Nico Gilli Scrum-half United States United States
Jason Higgins Scrum-half Canada Canada
Josh Henderson Fly-half Scotland Scotland
Will Hooley Fly-half United States United States
Patrick Madden Fly-half United States United States
Dominick Iacovino Centre United States United States
Tiaan Loots Centre South Africa South Africa
Thomas Morani* Centre Argentina Argentina
Ma'a Nonu Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Josh Thiel Centre Canada Canada
Tomas Aoake Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Bjorn Basson Wing South Africa South Africa
Kainoa Lloyd Wing Canada Canada
Ryan Matyas Wing United States United States
Marcus Tupuola Wing United States United States
Matías Freyre Fullback Argentina Argentina
Joe Pietersen Fullback South Africa 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 8 5 0 3 214 201 +13 4 24   Lost semi-final 24–38 to Seattle Seawolves
2019 1st 16 12 1 3 457 296 +161 12 61   Lost championship final 23–26 to Seattle Seawolves
2020 1st 5 5 0 0 161 108 +53 3 23   Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic
2021 4th 16 6 0 10 430 464 -34 14 38   4th in Conference, 9th overall

Honors

2018 season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
March 25 Austin Elite° Away Won, 24–32
April 7 Houston SaberCats° Home Lost, 17–33
April 22 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 23–39
April 29 Utah Warriors Home Won, 31–24
May 4 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 35–32
May 13 Glendale Raptors Away Lost, 27–31
May 25 Austin Elite Away Lost, 5–31
June 9 New Orleans Gold Away Won, 39–22
June 17 Austin Elite Home Won, 31–17
June 23 Glendale Raptors Home Won, 23–5
June 30 Seattle Seawolves°° Neutral Lost, 24–38

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

2019 season

Exhibition

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
January 6 Life West Away Won, 76–0
January 13 Glendale Raptors Home Lost, 31–38

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
January 27 Rugby United New York Home Lost, 23-25
February 2 Seattle Seawolves Home Won, 17-13
February 9 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 17-13
February 17 Utah Warriors Home Won, 21–10
February 23 Austin Elite Away Won, 45-17
March 10 Toronto Arrows Home Lost, 20-27
March 16 Glendale Raptors Away Draw, 28-28
March 31 Seattle Seawolves Away Won, 28-22
April 7 Austin Elite Home Won, 45-15
April 14 Rugby United New York Away Won, 29–19
April 20 Glendale Raptors Home Won, 46–15
April 28 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 41-19
May 5 Toronto Arrows Away Lost, 19-23
May 11 New Orleans Gold Away Won, 26-19
May 18 Utah Warriors Away Won, 31-21
June 2 New Orleans Gold Home Won, 22–10

Post season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
June 9 Rugby United New York Home Won, 24-22
June 16 Seattle Seawolves Home Lost, 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

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 9 Seattle Seawolves Home Won, 33–24
February 16 Colorado Raptors Home Won, 49–22
February 23 New England Free Jacks Home Won, 30–21
February 29 New Orleans Gold Away Won, 25–21
March 8 Rugby United New York Home Won, 24–20
March 15 Austin Gilgronis Away Cancelled
March 22 Old Glory DC Home Cancelled
March 27 Utah Warriors Away Cancelled
April 5 Houston SaberCats Home Cancelled
April 12 Seattle Seawolves Away Cancelled
April 26 Rugby ATL Away Cancelled
May 3 Austin Gilgronis Home Cancelled
May 10 Toronto Arrows Away Cancelled
May 16 Houston SaberCats Away Cancelled
May 25 Utah Warriors Home Cancelled
May 30 Colorado Raptors Away Cancelled

2021 season

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
March 20 Rugby United New York Home Lost, 29–36
March 28 Austin Gilgronis Away Won, 14–11
April 3 Rugby ATL Away Lost, 22–41
April 10 Houston SaberCats Away Lost, 32–34
April 17 Utah Warriors Home Won, 31-29
April 24 LA Giltinis Away Lost, 17-45
May 1 New England Free Jacks Home Lost, 17-33
May 9 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 15-21
May 15 New Orleans Gold Home Won, 43-17
May 29 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 39-11
June 6 Toronto Arrows Away Won, 40-30
June 12 Utah Warriors Away Lost, 41-45
June 20 LA Giltinis Home Lost, 13-19
June 26 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 14-33
July 3 Seattle Seawolves Home Won, 34-21
July 10 Old Glory DC Away Lost, 38-29

2022 season

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 6 Utah Warriors Home Won, 39-21
February 12 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 37-29
February 20 Seattle Seawolves Home Lost, 28-31
February 26 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 31-20
March 6 Old Glory DC Home Won, 24-12
March 13 Rugby New York Away Lost, 23-26
March 19 LA Giltinis Away Lost, 13-26
April 1 Utah Warriors Away Won, 40-25
April 10 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 21-35
April 16 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 32-34
April 24 Rugby ATL Home Lost, 17-30
April 30 Dallas Jackals Away Won, 53-14
May 7 Houston SaberCats Home Lost, 24-34
May 14 LA Giltinis Home Won, 31-27
May 21 NOLA Gold Awaay Won, 42-12
May 28 Austin Gilgronis Away Lost, 28-44

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. ^ a b c "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "San Diego Legion Names Danny Lee Head Coach & Director of Rugby". August 11, 2021.
  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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