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. 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.

Sponsorship Season Kit Manufacturer Front of Jersey Sponsor 2018XBlades Sharp Business Systems 2019 None 2020 Paladin Sports None 2021–2022 Ballast Point Brewing Company2023Kings & Convicts Brewing Co. 2024Kappa Kings & Convicts Brewing Co.

Players and personnel Head coaches Rob Hoadley (2018–2020) Zack Test (2020) Scott Murray (2020–2021) Danny Lee (2022–2024) John Manenti (2025)

Captains Nate Augspurger (2018) Joe Pietersen (2019) Nate Augspurger (2020–2025)

Records Season standings SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseasonPosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/− Result2018 -3rd 8 5 0 3 214 201 +13 4 24 1 012438-14Lost Semifinal (Seattle Seawolves) 24–382019 -1st 16 12 1 3 457 296 +161 12 61 2 114748-1 Won Semifinal (Rugby United New York) 24–22 Lost Major League Rugby final (Seattle Seawolves) 23–262020 Western1st 5 5 0 0 161 108 +53 3 23 - - - - - - Cancelled2021 Western4th 16 6 0 10 430 464 -34 14 38 - - - - - - Did not qualify 2022 Western5th 16 8 0 8 475 428 +47 8 43 1 011943-24 Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 19–432023 Western1st 16 15 0 1 554 285 +269 14 74 2 1 1 5635+21Won Conference Final (Seattle Seawolves) 32–10Lost Major League Rugby final New England Free Jacks 25–24 2024 Western3rd 16 11 0 5 421 374 +47 11 55 1 0 1 2838-2Lost West Conference Eliminator (Seattle Seawolves) 28–302025 Western5th 16 8 0 8 490 429 +61 16 48 - - - - - - Did not qualifyTotals 109 70 1 38 2,902 2,485 +417 82 366 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 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

Postseason 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 COVID-19 pandemic. It was canceled the following week

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

Postseason

Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result West Eliminator June 12 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 19–43

2023 season Regular season Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result February 18 Utah Warriors Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 33-17 February 26 New England Free Jacks Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 29-12 March 5 Houston SaberCats Away SaberCats Stadium Lost, 31-26 March 11 Dallas Jackals Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 22-0 March 18 Rugby ATL Away Atlanta Silverbacks Park Won, 35-10 April 2 Old Glory DC Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 48-26 April 8 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Complex Won, 23–20 April 16 Chicago Hounds Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 48–24 April 22 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 47–38 April 30 Houston SaberCats Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 29–16 May 6Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Won, 26–16 May 13 NOLA Gold Away Gold Mine Won, 26–12 May 28 Rugby New York Ironworkers Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 36–13 June 3 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Won, 36–14 June 11 Toronto Arrows Away York Lions Stadium Won, 50–17 June 18 Seattle Seawolves Home Snapdragon Stadium Won, 40–19

Postseason

Round Date Opponent Location Result West Conference Finals July 2, 2023 Seattle Seawolves Snapdragon Stadium Won, 32–10MLR Grand FinalJuly 8, 2023New England Free JacksSeatGeek StadiumLost, 25–24

References

External links