San Diego Legion

San Diego Legion
Full nameSan Diego Legion
Founded2017 (2017)
Disbanded30 July 2025 (30 July 2025)
LocationSan Diego, California
GroundTorero Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)
PresidentDavid Haigh
Most capsNathan Sylvia (90)
Top scorerJoe Pietersen (420)
Most triesTomas Aoake (23)
LeagueMajor League Rugby
2025Western Conference: 5th
Playoffs: DNQ
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.sdlegion.com

The San Diego Legion were an American professional rugby union team based in San Diego, California, that competed in Major League Rugby (MLR) from 2020 to 2025. The team played its home games at Torero Stadium.[1] 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.

In July 2025 it was announced that San Diego Legion and Rugby Football Club Los Angeles would merge to form a single, statewide rugby franchise, The California Legion.[2][3][4]

Sponsorship

Season Kit Manufacturer Front of Jersey Sponsor
2018 XBlades Sharp Business Systems
2019 None
2020 Paladin Sports None
2021–2022 Ballast Point Brewing Company
2023 Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.
2024 Kappa Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

Players and personnel

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− 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[a] Western 1st5500161108+53323------Cancelled
2021 Western 4th166010430464-341438------Did not qualify
2022 Western 5th16808475428+478431011943-24Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 19–43
2023 Western 1st161501554285+26914742115635+21Won Conference Final (Seattle Seawolves) 32–10
Lost Major League Rugby final New England Free Jacks 25–24
2024 Western 3rd161105421374+4711551012838-2Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 28–30
2025 Western 5th16808490429+611648------Did not qualify
Totals109701382,9022,485+41782366725174202-285 playoff appearances

Notes

  1. ↑ 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Postseason

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 COVID-19 pandemic.[8] It was canceled the following week[9]

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

2021 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 29–36
March 28Austin GilgronisAwayWon, 14–11
April 3Rugby ATLAwayLost, 22–41
April 10Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 32–34
April 17Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 31–29
April 24LA GiltinisAwayLost, 17–45
May 1New England Free JacksHomeLost, 17–33
May 9Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 15–21
May 15New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 43–17
May 29Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 39–11
June 6Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 40–30
June 12Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 41–45
June 20LA GiltinisHomeLost, 13–19
June 26Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 14–33
July 3Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 34–21
July 10Old Glory DCAwayLost, 38–29

2022 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 39–21
February 12Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 37–29
February 20Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 28–31
February 26Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 31–20
March 6Old Glory DCHomeWon, 24–12
March 13Rugby New YorkAwayLost, 23–26
March 19LA GiltinisAwayLost, 13–26
April 1Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 40–25
April 10Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 21–35
April 16Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 32–34
April 24Rugby ATLHomeLost, 17–30
April 30Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 53–14
May 7Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 24–34
May 14LA GiltinisHomeWon, 31–27
May 21NOLA GoldAwaayWon, 42–12
May 28Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 28–44

Postseason

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West EliminatorJune 12Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 19–43

2023 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 18Utah WarriorsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 33-17
February 26New England Free JacksHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 29-12
March 5Houston SaberCatsAwaySaberCats StadiumLost, 31-26
March 11Dallas JackalsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 22-0
March 18Rugby ATLAwayAtlanta Silverbacks ParkWon, 35-10
April 2Old Glory DCHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 48-26
April 8Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire Sports ComplexWon, 23–20
April 16Chicago HoundsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 48–24
April 22Dallas JackalsAwayChoctaw StadiumWon, 47–38
April 30Houston SaberCatsHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 29–16
May 6Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank StadiumWon, 26–16
May 13NOLA GoldAwayGold MineWon, 26–12
May 28Rugby New York IronworkersHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 36–13
June 3Chicago HoundsAwaySeatGeek StadiumWon, 36–14
June 11Toronto ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumWon, 50–17
June 18Seattle SeawolvesHomeSnapdragon StadiumWon, 40–19

Postseason

RoundDateOpponentLocationResult
West Conference FinalsJuly 2, 2023Seattle SeawolvesSnapdragon StadiumWon, 32–10
MLR Grand Final July 8, 2023 New England Free Jacks SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 25–24

References

  1. ↑ "San Diego Legion leaving Snapdragon Stadium for USD". San Diego Union-Tribune. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Major League Rugby's San Diego Legion and RFCLA to unite under The California Legion moniker". San Diego Legion Rugby Team. July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  3. ↑ "RFCLA and San Diego Legion Unite to Form 'The California Legion'". einnews. July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Major League Rugby's San Diego Legion and RFCLA to unite under The California Legion moniker". Major League Rugby. July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  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. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Manenti joins San Diego Legion after Australian Sevens success". si.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "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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