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)Torero Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)
Coach(es)Rob Hoadley (Head Coach)
Scott Murray (Forwards)
Captain(s)Joe Pietersen
Top scorerJoe Pietersen (177)
Most triesMike Te'o (9)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2019Runner-up (finals)
1st place (regular season)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com
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]

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 Shirt sponsor
2018 XBlades Sharp Business Systems
2019–present None

Players and personnel

Current squad

San Diego's announced roster for the 2021 season is:[6][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
Dean Muir Hooker South Africa
Peter Malcolm Hooker United States
Pat Blair* Hooker United States
Aaron Mitchell Prop United States
Paul Mullen Prop United States
Faka’osi Pifeleti Prop United States
Sione Tuihalamaka Prop United States
Nathan Sylvia Prop United States
Jamie Dever Prop Ireland
Ben Mitchell Lock Ireland
Louis Stanfill Lock United States
Josh Furno Lock Italy
Siaosi Mahoni Lock United States
Tai Tuisamoa Lock United States
Chris Robshaw Flanker England
Devin Short Flanker United States
Chris Turori Flanker United States
Jasa Veremalua Flanker Fiji
Derrick Broussard Flanker Philippines
Malon Al-Jiboori* Flanker United States
Psalm Wooching Flanker United States
Keni Nasoqeqe Number 8 Fiji
David Tameilau Number 8 United States
Player Position Union
Nate Augspurger Scrum-half United States
Devereaux Ferris Scrum-half United States
Tai Enosa Fly-half United States
Josh Thiel Fly-half Canada
Luke Burton Fly-half Australia
William Wardlow Centre Scotland
JP du Plessis Centre South Africa
Ma’a Nonu Centre New Zealand
Ryan Matyas Wing United States
Maceo Brown* Wing United States
Marcus Tupuola* Wing United States
Faitala Talapusi* Wing United States
Save Totovosau Wing Fiji
Tira Patterson Wing Fiji
Dylan Audsley Fullback United States
Joe Pietersen Fullback South Africa
  • Senior 15's and senior 7's internationally capped players in bold
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to five overseas players per match
  • *Members of the USA Sevens residency program who have been named as associate players for the Legion

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

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. "Major League Rugby nears kick-off as next attempt to make US a union power". The Guardian. UK. 2017-11-17. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  2. Nelson, Ronan (2018-01-18). "MLRs San Diego Legion Holds Combine". Rugby Wrap Up. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  3. "Irishman Leader's path leads him into USA's Major League Rugby". The 42. 2018-01-14. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-05.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  4. "San Diego Legion confirm coaches and home field". Americas Rugby News. 2018-02-16. Archived from the original on 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  5. "Pro rugby finds a home in San Diego", San Diego Union-Tribune, Tod Leonard, 2016-05-14.
  6. "2018 Major League Rugby – San Diego Legion". Americas Rugby News. 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  7. "TEAM - SD Legion". SD Legion. 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  8. "Coaching staff". San Diego Legion. Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  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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