San Diego Legion players celebrate a try in the teams 2022 season home opener. Photo by Chris Stone 
The san Diego Legion wins its home opener of the 2022 rugby season. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
A Legion players stretches to get a try. Photo by Chris Stone 
San Diego Legion players celebrate a try. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
Members of the Legion Cohort cheer for the team. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone 
The San Diego Legion won its season opener over the Utah Warriors. Photo by Chris Stone
The San Diego Legion won its Major League Rugby season opener Sunday, holding off a strong surge by the Utah Warriors at San Diego State’s Sports Deck field.
Playing in a new venue with a new head coach, New Zealand-born Danny Lee, the Legion prevailed 31-29.
Tries were made by the Legion’s Joe Pietersen (in the 20th minute), Bjorn Basson (42nd), Nate Augspurer (48th), Pete Malcolm (61st) and Ben Mitchell (73rd).
The Legion led 5-3 at halftime and scored 26 points in the second half.
“Obviously, I am pretty happy with the result,” Lee told Times of San Diego. “It’s always going to be pretty hard in the first game with new combinations and guys who are probably a little under done in terms of training, but I’m just really happy to come away with a win.”
Speaking about the tightness of the match at the end, Lee said: “We’ll look back on the footage to show to ourselves that we didn’t control the ball enough and there were just way too many errors. I’m just proud of the effort today. A win is a win. We picked up the bonus point as well and look forward to next week.”
The Legion also is starting the season with a new executive general manager, David Haigh.
Lee coached in Japan the past four years. His new defensive coach is Jack Wiggins, who spent several seasons as head coach of Hong Kong Football Club.
The Legion’s 2023 season will be played at San Diego State’s 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley.
Founded in 2017, the Legion finished the 2018 season in third place. It achieved first-place status in its division in 2019, but lost to the Seattle Seawolves in the final. The Legion began the 2020 with five wins, but the season was cut short by the pandemic.
Then 2021 was rough as COVID-19 restrictions caused a temporary relocation to Las Vegas. They returned to San Diego in April but played home games at five different places. They finished in fourth place.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, the Legion hosts the Dallas Jackals, a match will be shown live on Bally Sports San Diego and The Rugby Network.
