Ahead of their first season, the new-look #CaliforniaLegion are marrying of the infrastructure and roster of the 2025 #RFCLA team, with big names from the Utah Warriors and San Diego.
The roster looks strong, and the touring model is intriguing!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion
Further proof that the #CaliforniaLegion are just #RFCLA with the San Diego branding.
I know that SD fans have disliked this merger since the announcement. Will they take their fandom elsewhere? If so, the #ChicagoHounds have the same amount of 2025 Legion players...
#MLRStats #MLR2026
2025 #RFCLA and #SDLegion players still playing in #MLR2026!
The two Californian teams have been put together following their merger to form the #CaliforniaLegion!
The Legion are the clear choice to follow for #RFCLA fans, but it's not quite as obvious for San Diego fans...
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
We now OFFICIALLY have the rosters for all #MLR teams competing in #MLR2026!
Roster size is similar across the board, varying from 31-33. The #CaliforniaLegion settle on 32 including 13 players from the 2025 #RFCLA squad, but only 3 from San Diego.
Legion in name only.
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion announce the signing of Australian centre Nick Chan for #MLR2026!
The Sydney native played with #RFCLA in 2025, starting all 12 of his appearances and scoring 3 tries on over 400m gained, with 121 tackles made on defence!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion announce the signing of an 11th former #RFCLA player: Australian Loosehead Declan Leaney!
The Randwick man started 2 of his 7 games in 2025, scoring a first #MLR try and completing 57 tackles to help LA secure a playoff spot!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion announce the addition of 2023 #MLR draftee Matt Anticev for #MLR2026!
Drafted 5th overall out of Dartmouth College, Anticev earned 8 appearances for #RFCLA between 2024-25, starting twice!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
Player Moves around #MLR: Feb 9-15th!
The #CaliforniaLegion stay busy with another 3 additions to their #MLR2026 squad, including another 2 former #RFCLA players!
@seawolves.rugby add a pair of wingers, and @oldglorydc.bsky.social add former NOLA standout Jordan Jackson-Hope
#MLRStats #MLR
Yesterday, the #CaliforniaLegion announced the addition of US-born scrum-half Tas Smith for #MLR2026!
The former #Gilitinis ('22) and #RFCLA ('24-25) man has 46 #MLR appearances across 3 seasons, scoring 3 tries on over 550m gained and completing 149 tackles!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
No surprise that the #CaliforniaLegion are the busiest team in #MLR in terms of Player Moves, and no surprise that it's all #RFCLA players, either!
More information on all these moves available below!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion #TogetherWeHunt
Player Moves around #MLR: Feb 2-8!
A quieter week for Player Moves, with a decidedly West Coast theme!
The #CaliforniaLegion added FOUR former #RFCLA players, and @seawolves.rugby added a pair of new faces as Huw Taylor heads home!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion #TogetherWeHunt
The #CaliforniaLegion have signed Californian prop Justus Tavai for his 2nd #MLR season in #MLR2026!
A crossover athlete from the gridiron, the former defensive tackle earned 4 appearances (1 start) with #RFCLA in 2025, scoring 2 tries!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion announce the addition of back row Ben Houston for his 2nd #MLR season in #MLR2026!
Houston started all 14 of his games for #RFCLA in 2025, scoring 8 tries including 1 in the playoffs and recording over 625m gained and 160 tackles total!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion announce the addition of English hooker Ben Sugars for their #MLR2026 season!
The former #Waratahs man started 11 of his 15 appearances for #RFCLA in 2025 including their lone playoff game, scoring 2 tries and recording 135 tackles made!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion annouce the addition of 2025 #RFCLA Forward of the Year Ed Timpson for #MLR2026!
The English flanker scored 7 tries in 15 games for LA in 2025, starting 13 times including in their only playoff appearance, recording 164 tackles total!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion announce the signing of USA Captain Jason Damm for #MLR2026!
Damm spent the last two seasons with #RFCLA, and has 64 #MLR games across 7 seasons to date, scoring 22 tries and recording over 700 tackles including 199 in 2025 alone!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
Stephen Hoiles named #CaliforniaLegion Head Coach for #MLR2026!
Hoiles has a 57.58% win rate as a #MLR head coach:
LA Giltinis: 11-0-5 (68.75%)
#RFCLA: 8-1-8 (50%)
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The #CaliforniaLegion's #MLR2026 Coaching staff!
From #RFCLA, Stephen Hoiles leads with Dave Dennis as Defence Coach. From #SD, Dave Clancy is backs coach, with
#UCLA's Todd Thornley now forwards coach.
Ex-Utah & Canada S&C Coach Sebastian Pearson also joins!
#WeAreLegion #MLRStats
Former Rugby ATL and #RFCLA Head Coach Steve Brett joins the @seawolves.rugby Coaching Staff for #MLR2026!
Brett has served as Attack & Backs coach for the Colorado Raptors, Rugby ATL, and USA Rugby in addition to his HC roles!
#MLRStats
. @oldglorydc.bsky.social announce the addition of 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist and 2024 All-MLR First XV selection Semi Kunatani for #MLR2026!
Kunatani scored 11 tries in 26 #MLR games for #RFCLA since 2024 including 10 in 15 games in 2024, gaining over 1,100m and making 161 tackles!
#MLRStats
The #ChicagoHounds announce the return of 2023 #MLRDraft pick Jackson Zabierek for his 3rd #MLR season in #MLR2026!
Selected 18th overall in 2023 by #RFCLA, Zabierek earned 12 of his 18 career appearances for the Hounds in 2025, scoring his first two career tries!
#MLRStats
. @anthemrugby.bsky.social announce the signing of US-eligible prop Alessandro Heaney from the Cornish Pirates for #MLR2026!
Heaney spent the past 2 years with #RFCLA, starting 12 of his 15 games in 2025 and recording over 100 tackles, earning 2 #MLR Team of the Week nods!
#MLRStats #AnthemCountry
.@oldglorydc.bsky.social announce the addition of 2024 #MLR
Draftee Patrick Beattie for #MLR2026!
The Long Beach State alum was drafted 26th overall by #RFCLA, and spent the 2025 season with the team before playing with Old Blue in the ARP!
#MLRStats #ScrumTogether
Really good news for USA fans to see newly capped prop Maliu Niuafe is back in #MLR!
The New Zealand raised prop is only 22, and enjoyed a solid season with #RFCLA in 2025. A bit surprised the #CaliforniaLegion didn't hold on to him, but that might be his choice.
#MLRStats #MLR2026
The #FreeJacks announce the addition of newly capped USA Eagle #596 Maliu Niuafe for #MLR2026!
The 22yo prop started 12 of his 16 games with #RFCLA in 2025, gaining 99m and completing 104 tackles! He earned his test debut against Samoa in September!
#MLRStats #LetsRide
More info on Heaney's #MLR career is available in his #NARDB Player Profile below!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #ChampRugby #RFCLA #CornishPirates
narugbydb.com/player/aless...
#ChampRugby side @cornishpirates.bsky.social announce the signing of #RFCLA prop Ale Heaney for the rest of 2025!
Heaney started 12 of his 15 games for LA in #MLR2025, helping them make the postseason and completing well over 100 tackles!
Best of luck, Ale!
#MLRStats #MLR #MLR2026
For more info on Reece MacDonald including his #MLRStats, his #NARDB Player Profile is available below:
#MLR #MLR2026 #Rugby #LetsRide #RFCLA
2024 #MLR Back of the Year Reece MacDonald signs with
the NEC Green Rockets in Japan!
A 2x Shield winner with the #FreeJacks, MacDonald scored 15 tries & 119pts in 40 #MLR games from 2023-25, including 10 in his standout 2024 season!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #RFCLA #LetsRide
The #SDLegion, The winningest team in #MLR history is no more. Instead, they have merged with #RFCLA (who started life as Rugby ATL once upon a time) to form the California Legion.
This team looks like it will almost tour around California, playing games at 3 different home venues. It’s very odd
