The San Diego Legion certainly have established historic bragging rights for what can be accomplished in one Major League Rugby season. But can the team seal the deal with a championship?
The rugby world will find out Saturday as the Legion (16-1) takes on the New England Free Jacks (15-2) for the MLR Shield at noon outside Chicago at SeatGeek Stadium.
No matter what, MLR will see a first-time champion. San Diego, reached, but lost the title game in 2019, while New England will play in it for the first time. The league will see its best teams in the final though – each produced the top record in their respective conference.
The Legion completed an undefeated slate of home games the year when they took the Western Conference title Sunday with a relatively easy win over the Seattle Seawolves.
As far as league records, the team boasts the most wins in a season (16), the longest win streak (14 and counting), the most standing points (74) and the most different try scorers (29).
Yet without a title, it’s not enough, said Richard Judd, a Legion scrum half.
“The Western Conference is a big milestone, but the job is not done yet,” Judd said. “There is that famous Kobe (Bryant) quote, ‘What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished.’”
Nor is it done for the Free Jacks, who took the Eastern Conference crown while holding Old Glory DC to one score. Mitch Jacobson, a back-row forward for New England, said the game gave his team “some real positives,” adding that “our defense was quite outstanding.”
How will that play out against the Legion? Jacobson thinks it will be all about the pressure.
“I think if we can put San Diego under a bit of pressure, they like to throw the ball around, (we can) start to squeeze them. It will go a long way to winning the game,” he explained.
For the uninitiated, the Legion’s Ma’a Nonu helps pace the team, along with Mikey Te’o and Nate Augspurger. Free Jacks to watch? Jacobson, Beaudien Waaka, Ben LeSage, Reece MacDonald and Conor Keys.
The Legion often sings the praises of San Diego and the fan base they’ve enjoyed since the team’s debut in 2018. Going to Chicago is one thing, Judd said, but bringing home the Shield, would be something far more.
“It’s an awesome occasion, an awesome city, but the best thing to do would be to lift that Shield at the end of the day,” Judd said.
Meanwhile, there will be Legion watch parties Saturday, with the official bash taking place at Ballast Point, and more set for GoodBar SD, Dan Diego and Fairplay.
