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On May 8, USA Rugby shared some very exciting news for the San Diego Legion community and beyond.
This summer, seven of our very own players (see full list below) will be competing with the USA Men’s Eagles team. This is an incredible honor. First and foremost, we extend a HUGE congratulation to each team member that was selected for this international match. Thanks to their talent, hard work, and leadership, they will be representing the USA and San Diego Legion on a global stage.
Our team, specifically led by Head Coach Rob Hoadley, is committed to building a world-class rugby team. The fact that our team had the most number of Major League Rugby (MLR) players selected for the Men’s Eagles roster, it speaks volumes about the talent we are recruiting.
We realize this very exciting announcement might raise some questions for SD Legion’s passionate fans. Rest assured, Head Coach Rob is working hard to form a winning team for America’s Finest City. So, who better to address these questions than the man himself…Rob, can you take it from here?
“When putting our roster together, we were aware of the possibility that some players would be leaving the lineup in June. The fact is: Any MLR team that is successful will have players selected for USA Rugby. We’re honored to have seven players selected—the most of any MLR team. While it certainly brings another challenge, in that we lose a core group of our drivers at a crucial time of the season, our goal is to be in a position where we qualify for the MLR postseason in the weeks that follow.
To help us meet this goal, we have brought in Nathan Sylvia, after a strong campaign in the Pacific Rugby Premiership with San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby, to strengthen our front row. It’s important to note: The development we’re putting into some of our young players such as Devin Short, Chris Turori and Anthony Salabar (already named ‘Man of the Match’ for two consecutive games) has already been a highlight of the season thus far. We are very excited to continue seeing these players grow with SD Legion. Another key component is we have significant experience that comes from our international players at this period in the season. JP duPlesis has been excellent in the center, and also a great leader on and off the pitch, while Dolph Botha is coming in to be a cornerstone of our pack. Additionally, Tadhg Leader has been with the squad from day one and will continue to direct the team this season as captain. Our strength will be tested, but that is the nature of professional rugby. We have a great group of people and are relishing in the challenges presented by taking part in Major League Rugby. The team feels incredibly privileged to be able to train and compete each day, in order to produce game day performances that make our fans and new city proud. Thanks to all of you for the ongoing support!”
The full list of SD Legion players that will begin the training camp with the Eagles beginning May 27 are as follows:
- Dylan Audsley, Center
- Nate Augspurger, Scrum Half
- Ben Cima, Fly Half
- Cam Dolan, No.8
- Tony Lamborn, Flanker
- Siaosi Mahoni, Lock
To read the full press release and learn more about this announcement from USA Rugby, click here.