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 name	San Diego Legion
Founded	2017 (2017)
Location	San Diego, California
Ground(s)	Torero Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)
Coach(es)	Rob Hoadley (Head Coach) Scott Murray (Forwards)
Captain(s)	Joe Pietersen
Top scorer	Joe Pietersen (177)
Most tries	Mike Te'o (9)
League(s)	Major League Rugby
2019	Runner-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

• Rob Hoadley (2018–present) [8]

Captains

• Nate Augspurger (2018–present)

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

Honors

• Major League Rugby
  • Runner-up: 2019
  • Playoff appearances: 2018, 2019

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

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

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.