A New Era Begins for the Legion in Irvine
A sun-soaked afternoon and an energized home crowd set the stage for the California Legion’s Major League Rugby debut, as fans turned out in force at Great Park in Irvine to welcome a new era of professional rugby in the state.
This is more than a match. It is a full showcase of the game across the state, all building to California Legion vs Anthem Rugby Carolina. Plan ahead, arrive early, and be part of it.
On the field, the Legion fell to Anthem Rugby Carolina in a result that marked a historic milestone for the visitors. Anthem, a team built with a long-term vision of developing American talent ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, secured their first-ever victory after years of growth and investment, with their hunger and execution proving decisive.
“Anthem deserved the win today,” said Legion Head Coach Steve Hoiles. “They came in hungry for it, they showed accuracy and aggression.”
While the result did not go their way, the Legion’s performance reflected grit and determination, particularly from a core group of players who delivered relentless effort across the full 80 minutes.
“We spent a long part of the week preparing for what we thought would happen, and we just didn't adjust well,” Hoiles added. “I have to take responsibility for that as I don’t believe we were physically ready. It’s really disappointing to start this way for a new club in front of a really healthy crowd, playing in front of the home crowd.”
Despite the loss, Coach Hoiles recognized standout individual performances.
“We had some really great performances… both hookers, Joe Taufete'e and Ben Sugars, made strong impacts, while Ed Timpson injected energy off the bench.”
“Gonzalo Bertranou was the same relentless Gonzo as always,” Hoiles said. “We just needed to have better accuracy at the ruck and make the most of the opportunities we created.”
“Losing sucks, but you would much rather lose creating opportunities and not using them than not creating any,” Hoiles continued. “On the flip side that’s what makes it frustrating as we left a lot of points out there. We have a lot to improve on and we just have to get cracking.”
Beyond the result, the day showcased the Legion’s broader vision of building rugby from the ground up. Earlier in the day, the club hosted a Southern California round of rugby, welcoming local teams, players, and families to take part. The initiative reinforced the Legion’s commitment to deepening its roots in the community and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Join us as we continue our California tour in San Diego!
That energy carried into the stands, where a mix of first-time fans and longtime supporters created a lively matchday atmosphere. Supporters from San Diego and Los Angeles rugby communities showed their colors proudly, many donning red and blue.
The club’s new identity was visible across the venue, with fans embracing merchandise and contributing to a unified matchday experience. With clear skies and warm California sunshine overhead, supporters stayed refreshed with Bondi Beer, adding to the festival feel.
The Legion also paid tribute to California rugby’s history. Former San Diego Legion favorite and USA Eagle Ryan Matyas delivered the game ball, while Cohort leader Sean Sheridan Richards led the team onto the field in full Legion costume alongside Captain Jason Damm, symbolizing the connection between past, present, and future.
As the team turns the page, the focus shifts to building on the positives and improving quickly ahead of the next test.
“Overall some good performances, but next week we need to be better,” Hoiles concluded.
The California Legion now travel south for their next matchup on Saturday, April 4 at Torero Stadium in San Diego.
