San Diego Legion

{{Short description|Major League Rugby union team in San Diego, California}}

{{Infobox rugby team

|teamname = San Diego Legion

|image = San diego legion logo.png

| upright = 0.65

|fullname = San Diego Legion

|nickname =

|location = San Diego, California

|founded = {{start date and age|2017}}

|ground = Torero Stadium

|capacity = 6,000

|owntitle =

|owners = Ryan Patterson
Darren Gardner

|president = David Haigh

|rugby director =

|general manager =

|coach = John Manenti

|captain = Blair Cowan

|top scorer= Joe Pietersen (420)

|league = Major League Rugby

|season = 2023

|position = Runner-up
1st (Western Conference)

|currentseason = 2025 Major League Rugby season

|url = https://www.sdlegion.com/

| pattern_la1 = _whiteborder

| pattern_b1 = _collarwhite

| pattern_ra1 = _whiteborder

| pattern_sh1 = _whitebottom

| pattern_so1 =

| leftarm1 = E4002B

| body1 = E4002B

| rightarm1 = E4002B

| shorts1 = E4002B

| socks1 = E4002B

| pattern_la2 = _whiteborder

| pattern_b2 = _collarwhite

| pattern_ra2 = _whiteborder

| pattern_sh2 = _whitebottom

| pattern_so2 =

| leftarm2 = 000000

| body2 = 000000

| rightarm2 = 000000

| shorts2 = 000000

| socks2 = 000000

|most tries = Nate Augspurger (22)

|caps = Nathan Sylvia (76)

}}

The San Diego Legion are an American professional rugby union team based in San Diego, California, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team plays its home games at Torero Stadium.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=San Diego Legion leaving Snapdragon Stadium for USD |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/11/19/san-diego-legion-leaving-snapdragon-stadium-for-usd/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}} The Legion began play in the league's inaugural 2018 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 began play at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego for the 2018 season.

On February 2, 2022, the Legion announced Snapdragon Stadium to be their new home beginning in 2023. On November 19, 2024, the team announced plans to leave Snapdragon Stadium to return to Torero Stadium. Playoff games may be hosted at Snapdragon Stadium depending on demand.

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

Sponsorship

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Season ! Kit Manufacturer ! Front of Jersey Sponsor
2018 \| rowspan="2"\|XBlades \| Sharp Business Systems
2019 \| None
2020 \| rowspan="3" \| Paladin Sports \| None
2021–2022 \| Ballast Point Brewing Company
2023 \|Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.
2024 \| rowspan="4" \|Kappa \| Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

Season

! Kit Manufacturer

! Front of Jersey Sponsor

2018

| rowspan="2"|XBlades

| Sharp Business Systems

2019

| None

2020

| rowspan="3" | Paladin Sports

| None

2021–2022

| Ballast Point Brewing Company

2023

|Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

2024

| rowspan="4" |Kappa

| Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

Players and personnel

=Current squad=

The San Diego Legion squad for the 2025 Major League Rugby season is:{{cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2025-major-league-rugby/mlr-2025-san-diego-legion/|title=San Diego Legion|work=Americas Rugby News|access-date=14 January 2025}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=MEX | pos=PR | name=Alejandro Pradillo}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=PR | name=Djustice Sears-Duru}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Nathan Sylvia}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Payton Telea-Ilalio}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=PR | name=Brook To’omalatai}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=LK | name=Jed Holloway}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Brendan Amiatu-Tanoi}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=BR | name=Christian Poidevin*}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Tevita Tameilau}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=FH | name=Lincoln McClutchie}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=FH | name=Harris Rutherford*}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=CE | name=Marcel Brache}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=CE | name=Tavite Lopeti}}

Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
* denotes players qualified to play for the {{nrut|United States}} on dual nationality or residency grounds.
MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

=Head coaches=

{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Hoadley (2018–2020){{hsp}}
{{flagicon|USA}} Zack Test (2020){{hsp}}
{{flagicon|SCO}} Scott Murray (2020–2021){{hsp}}
{{flagicon|NZL}} Danny Lee (2022–2024){{cite web | url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2021/08/11/san-diego-legion-names-danny-lee-head-coach-director-of-rugby/ | title=San Diego Legion Names Danny Lee Head Coach & Director of Rugby | date=August 11, 2021 }}
{{flagicon|AUS}} John Manenti (2025–present){{cite web |title=Manenti joins San Diego Legion after Australian Sevens success |url=https://www.si.com/onsi/rugby/manenti-joins-san-diego-legion-after-australian-sevens-success-01j6atg2ddme |website=si.com |access-date=February 26, 2025}}

=Captains=

Nate Augspurger (2018)
Joe Pietersen (2019)
Nate Augspurger (2020–present)

Records

=Season standings=

rowspan="2"\|Season ! rowspan="2"\|Conference ! colspan="10"\|Regular season ! colspan="8"\|Postseason
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%"
{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0 ! style="width:20px;"\|Pos ! style="width:20px;"\|Pld ! style="width:20px;"\|W ! style="width:20px;"\|D ! style="width:20px;"\|L ! style="width:20px;"\|F ! style="width:20px;"\|A ! style="width:25px;"\|+/− ! style="width:20px;"\|BP ! style="width:20px;"\|Pts ! style="width:20px;"\|Pld ! style="width:20px;"\|W ! style="width:20px;"\|L ! style="width:20px;"\|F ! style="width:20px;"\|A ! style="width:25px;"\|+/− ! style="width:30em; text-align:centre;"\| Result
2018 \| - \|3rd	8	5	0	3	214	201	+13	4	24	1	0	1	24	38\|
14	Lost Semifinal (Seattle Seawolves) 24–38
2019 \| - \|1st	16	12	1	3	457	296	+161	12	61	2	1	1	47	48\|
1	Won Semifinal (Rugby United New York) 24–22 Lost Major League Rugby final (Seattle Seawolves) 23–26
2020{{efn\|name=COVID\|2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.}} \| Western \|1st	5	5	0	0	161	108	+53	3	23	-	-	-	-	-	-	Cancelled
2021 \| Western \|4th	16	6	0	10	430	464	-34	14	38	-	-	-	-	-	-	Did not qualify
2022 \| Western \|5th	16	8	0	8	475	428	+47	8	43	1	0	1	19	43\|
24	Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 19–43
2023 \| Western \|1st	16	15	0	1	554	285	+269	14	74	2	1	1	56	35	+21	\|Won Conference Final (Seattle Seawolves) 32–10 Lost Major League Rugby final New England Free Jacks 25–24
2024 \| Western \|3rd	16	11	0	5	421	374	+47	11	55	1	0	1	28	38\|
2	\|Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 28–30
align="center" ! colspan="3"\|Totals !! 93 !! 62 !! 1 !! 30 !! 2,412 !! 2,056 !! +356 !! 66 !! 318 !! 7 !! 2 !! 5 !! 174 !! 202 !! -28 !! 5 playoff appearances

=Notes=

=Honors=

Major League Rugby
Runner-up: 2019, 2023
Playoff appearances: 2018, 2019

2018 season

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

° = Exhibition game

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

2019 season

=Exhibition=

class="wikitable"
Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| January 6	Life West	Away	Won, 76–0
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| January 13	Glendale Raptors	Home	Lost, 31–38

class="wikitable"

Date

Opponent

Home/Away

Result

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| January 6

Life West

Away

Won, 76–0

bgcolor="#FFCCCC"

| January 13

Glendale Raptors

Home

Lost, 31–38

=Regular season=

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

=Post season=

class="wikitable"
Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| June 9	Rugby United New York	Home	Won, 24–22
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| June 16	Seattle Seawolves	Home	Lost, 23–26

class="wikitable"

Date

Opponent

Home/Away

Result

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| June 9

Rugby United New York

Home

Won, 24–22

bgcolor="#FFCCCC"

| 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 COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-suspends-2020-season-for-30-days/ |title=Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527203553/https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-suspends-2020-season-for-30-days/ |url-status=dead }} It was canceled the following week{{cite news |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/major-league-rugby-cancels-remainder-2020-campaign-144516941--spt.html |work=Yahoo! Sports |agency=AFP |access-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319191200/https://sports.yahoo.com/major-league-rugby-cancels-remainder-2020-campaign-144516941--spt.html |url-status=dead }}

=Regular season=

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

2021 season

=Regular season=

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

2022 season

=Regular season=

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

=Post season=

class="wikitable"
Round	Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| West Eliminator	June 12	Seattle Seawolves	Away	Lost, 19–43

class="wikitable"

Round

Date

Opponent

Home/Away

Result

bgcolor="#FFCCCC"

| West Eliminator

June 12

Seattle Seawolves

Away

Lost, 19–43

2023 season

=Regular season=

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Location	Result
class="wikitable"
bgcolor="CCFFCC \| February 18	Utah Warriors	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 33-17
bgcolor="CCFFCC \| February 26	New England Free Jacks	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 29-12
bgcolor="FFCCCC \| March 5	Houston SaberCats	Away	SaberCats Stadium	Lost, 31-26
bgcolor="CCFFCC \| March 11	Dallas Jackals	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 22-0
bgcolor="CCFFCC \| March 18	Rugby ATL	Away	Atlanta Silverbacks Park	Won, 35-10
bgcolor="CCFFCC \| April 2	Old Glory DC	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 48-26
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| April 8	Seattle Seawolves	Away	Starfire Sports Complex	Won, 23–20
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| April 16	Chicago Hounds	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 48–24
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| April 22	Dallas Jackals	Away	Choctaw Stadium	Won, 47–38
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| April 30	Houston SaberCats	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 29–16
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| May 6	Utah Warriors	Away	Zions Bank Stadium	Won, 26–16
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| May 13	NOLA Gold	Away	Gold Mine	Won, 26–12
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| May 28	Rugby New York Ironworkers	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 36–13
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| June 3	Chicago Hounds	Away	SeatGeek Stadium	Won, 36–14
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| June 11	Toronto Arrows	Away	York Lions Stadium	Won, 50–17
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| June 18	Seattle Seawolves	Home	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 40–19

=Post Season=

class="wikitable"
Round	Date	Opponent	Location	Result
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| West Conference Finals	July 2, 2023	Seattle Seawolves	Snapdragon Stadium	Won, 32–10
bgcolor="FFCCCC \|MLR Grand Final \|July 8, 2023 \|New England Free Jacks \|SeatGeek Stadium \|Lost, 25–24

class="wikitable"

Round

Date

Opponent

Location

Result

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| West Conference Finals

July 2, 2023

Seattle Seawolves

Snapdragon Stadium

Won, 32–10

bgcolor="FFCCCC

|MLR Grand Final

|July 8, 2023

|New England Free Jacks

|SeatGeek Stadium

|Lost, 25–24

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=Coaching staff |website=San Diego Legion |access-date= 2018-02-13 |url= https://www.sdlegion.com/coaches/ |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180213203231/https://www.sdlegion.com/coaches/ |archive-date= 2018-02-13}}

}}

External links

{{official website}}

Category:Major League Rugby teams

Category:2017 establishments in California

Category:Rugby clubs established in 2017

Category:Rugby union teams in San Diego