MLR 2022 Preview – San Diego Legion

It’s going to be another strange year for the San Diego Legion. After a nomadic existence in 2021 that saw them play home games at five different venues, the team has now left their spiritual home of Torero Stadium and will play at the SDSU Sports Deck. It’s a significantly smaller location but one the team says is a temporary measure as they look for a more suitable arrangement for 2023.

On the personnel side there is a new Executive General Manager in David Haigh, a new Head Coach in Danny Lee, and among notable player additions the return of a certain All Black legend. In that respect the Cohort should have some exciting rugby to watch this season, and there will be significantly higher expectations after the subpar showing of last season. The Legion have unveiled much of their roster though there are more bodies to be confirmed.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

 

TEAM HISTORY

YEAR	SEASON	RANK	FINALS
2018	5-3	3 of 7	0-1
2019	12-3-1	1 of 9	1-1
2020	5-0	1 of 12	–
2021	6-10	9 of 12	–

One of MLR’s founding members, for three seasons the Legion were among the league’s best teams. They finished first in the regular season in 2019 and came within seconds of securing the title, only to see the Seawolves play spoilers in San Diego’s backyard. In 2020 they looked to be well on their way to at least a Final appearance before the pandemic struck.

Rob Hoadley left as Head Coach following the third season and the new split leadership role between Zack Test and Scott Murray didn’t work out as planned in 2021, though the off-field disruptions certainly did not help their cause. Significant injuries to key players Chris Robshaw, Nate Augspurger, and Dylan Audsley also contributed and fingers will be crossed that the team stays reasonably healthy in 2022.

 

COACHING STAFF

Former All Blacks scrumhalf Danny Lee is the new Director of Rugby and Head Coach, arriving after a four-year stint in Japan. Murray has stayed on and reprises his role as Forwards Coach, while Test is now an assistant with the Women’s Eagles Sevens program. Jack Wiggins is the new Defense Coach and Academy Director, an Englishman who was most recently part of Hong Kong’s national team staff. Andre Bosier remains Team Manager. He has also been a Leadership and Mental Skills Coach.

 

FRONT ROW

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Cronan Gleeson Faka’osi Pifeleti Nathan Sylvia	LH Prop	Pat Lynott Nathan Sylvia Joe Walsh
Peter Malcolm Dean Muir Chris Schade	Hooker	Peter Malcolm Matt Moulds Chris Schade Dillon Shotwell
Chris Baumann Aaron Mitchell Paddy Ryan	TH Prop	Chris Baumann Hencus van Wyk

Last season’s starting front row of Faka’osi Pifeleti, Dean Muir, and Paddy Ryan have all departed. Pifeleti is now with Austin, Muir with Houston, and Ryan is back in Japan. Others who have moved on include Cronan Gleeson, who has now returned to Ireland, and Aaron Mitchell who followed Muir to Houston.

Three Southern Hemisphere recruits join in loosehead prop Joe Walsh, hooker Matt Moulds, and tighthead Hencus van Wyk. Walsh and Moulds are from New Zealand and van Wyk from South Africa. All three have Super Rugby experience.

Pat Lynott joins from the Toronto Arrows as a loosehead option with former USA u20 representative Dillon Shotwell arriving from Sam Houston State. He was selected by the SaberCats in the 2021 Collegiate Draft but did not sign on with the team. San Diego draft pick Thomas Capriotti has moved to Old Glory.

 

SECOND ROW

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Tom Franklin Joshua Furno Siaosi Mahoni Ben Mitchell	Lock	Jonah Dietenberger Ben Grant Ben Mitchell Jale Railala

There are big changes at lock with only Ben Mitchell returning. The even taller Ben Grant has arrived from the Western Force in Australia while former Glasgow Warriors signing Jale Railala, who can also play blindside flanker, is due to join the team from Fiji. Jonah Dietenberger was plucked from Lindenwood in the Collegiate Draft. Former Houston lock Robert Meeson has been on trial in recent weeks.

Joshua Furno left the team prior to the end of last season, not long after the arrival of Tom Franklin. Furno recently resurfaced with French club Bourg-en-Bresse while Franklin has re-joined the Kobelco Steelers in Japan. Siaosi Mahoni has moved to the Houston SaberCats.

 

BACK ROW

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Derrick Broussard Dan Pryor Chris Robshaw Michael Smith Chris Turori Jasa Veremalua Psalm Wooching	Flanker	Derrick Broussard Dan Pryor Chris Robshaw Michael Smith Chris Turori
Keni Nasoqeqe Tevita Tameilau	No8	Rohan O’Regan Tevita Tameilau

Rohan O’Regan is the only addition in the senior back row group though a fully-fit Chris Robshaw will feel like a new signing after missing most of 2021 with a shoulder injury. Dan Pryor also appeared just twice last season, while Derrick Broussard and Chris Turori saw limited action. 20-year-old academy flanker Jake Stone appeared in preseason action.

Psalm Wooching signed with French Pro D2 side Rouen Normandie and Jasa Veremalua went to the Tel Aviv Heat in the Rugby Europe Super Cup. Keni Nasoqeqe joins Muir, Mitchell, and Mahoni in Houston.

 

HALFBACKS

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Nate Augspurger Carlo de Nysschen Ethan McVeigh	Scrumhalf	Nate Augspurger Nico Gilli Jason Higgins
Tai Enosa Patrick Madden Joe Pietersen	Flyhalf	Will Hooley Patrick Madden Joe Pietersen

USA international Will Hooley was the first new signing announced by the team and based on the preseason is set to start at No10, with incumbent Joe Pietersen playing fullback. Patrick Madden was used as an emergency scrumhalf in 2021 but has been training at his preferred flyhalf spot.

Carlo de Nysschen left for Dallas while Ethan McVeigh returned to study at Cardiff Metropolitan University, which left Nate Augspurger as the only returning No9. Canadian international Jason Higgins arrives from the Toronto Arrows and while a third scrumhalf has yet to be made official, local product Nico Gilli saw lots of game time in the preseason.

 

MIDFIELD

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Cameron Clark Santiago González Iglesias Tiaan Loots Thomas Morani Josh Thiel	Center	Tiaan Loots Thomas Morani Ma’a Nonu Josh Thiel

Ma’a Nonu will be 40 years old before the season is done but remarkably is still playing top flight rugby having suited up for Toulon in the Top 14 this past season. He looked sharp in his four-game cameo with the team in 2020 and San Diego fans are thrilled to have him back for a full campaign.

Cameron Clark and Thomas Morani filled the No13 shirt this past season. Clark returned to Australia with the Brumbies while Morani has played both center and fullback during the preseason. Canadian international Josh Thiel is returning from a serious knee injury and is a utility option at flyhalf, center, or fullback. After missing nearly all of last season, Thiel fills the role occupied by Santiago González Iglesias who has since returned to home club Alumni in Buenos Aires.

 

OUTSIDE BACKS

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Bjorn Basson Ryan Matyas Save Totovosau Cole Zarcone	Wing	Tomas Aoake Bjorn Basson Kainoa Lloyd Ryan Matyas
Cecil Afrika Dylan Audsley	Fullback	Matías Freyre Dominick Iacovino

Save Totovosau left for French club Narbonne in the off-season while Cole Zarcone joined up with the Seawolves. Cecil Afrika has departed while Dylan Audsley is opting to take time out from the game after suffering a second leg break in the 2021 season.

Tomas Aoake has been signed from North Harbour in New Zealand and former Arrows flyer Kainoa Lloyd is awaiting visa clearance before joining the team. Argentine utility back Matías Freyre made the move from Houston. We’ve included Dom Iacovino as a fullback, where he played for GCU, but the draft pick looks to be making the shift to the midfield with San Diego.

 

2022 OUTLOOK

After the undefeated start to the 2020 campaign, the fall to 9th overall and out of playoff contention was a bitter pill for San Diego in 2021. There were glimpses of class, a three-game winning streak just poking the door to the post-season open only to drop four of their last five games of the season.

The new coaching setup should make an immediate impact and having household names Robshaw and Nonu healthy will be a massive boost to confidence. If the new-look forward pack can deliver enough possession, there is no shortage of finishers waiting out wide.

How the team responds to the move away from Torero Stadium is also a question that needs answering but could be mitigated by capacity crowds at the smaller venue. All things considered the team looks in better shape than a year ago and is in the mix for a playoff spot… provided the rugby gods smile favorably on their aging leadership group.