California Legion Signs Joe Taufete'e
California Legion has signed Joe Taufete’e ahead of the 2026 Major League Rugby season, adding one of MLR’s most prolific try scoring front row players with extensive professional experience and international exposure.
Joe Taufete’e arrives in California as one of the most productive attacking front row players in Major League Rugby, bringing consistent try scoring, physical presence, and experience across multiple MLR franchises.
“I’m super excited to be heading back to California to put on a jersey for the California Legion,” Taufete’e said. “This is where my roots started and where my foundation in rugby was built. To represent a united rugby community across the whole state means a lot to me.”
Born in American Samoa, Taufete’e began playing rugby with the Belmont Shore U19s while studying and playing American football at Santa Ana Community College. He later traveled to New Zealand to continue developing his rugby skill set before earning his first professional opportunity with the San Diego Breakers in 2016.
Later that year, Taufete’e signed with Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership, launching a professional career that would span England, France, and Major League Rugby. In 2020, he joined French Top 14 side Lyon, competing in one of the most demanding domestic competitions in the sport.
In March 2022, following the birth of his child in California, Taufete’e was granted release from Lyon and signed with the LA Giltinis. He later returned to England with Leicester Tigers before rejoining Major League Rugby with the Houston SaberCats, then moving on to the Seattle Seawolves and NOLA Gold.
During the 2024 season with Seattle, Taufete’e delivered a standout MLR campaign, scoring eight tries in 14 matches and helping the Seawolves reach the MLR Final. His attacking output placed him inside the league’s top ten try scorers, rare territory for a front row player.
At the international level, Taufete’e has also represented the USA Eagles, earning 22 caps and scoring 20 international tries. His international experience complements a body of work defined primarily by elite production in Major League Rugby.
Taufete’e also emphasized the direction of the club and the coaching group as key factors in his decision to join the Legion.
“I’m excited about the quality of coaches we have lined up,” he said. “I’ve been under their care before, and knowing the direction we’re heading, with the group we’ve put together, makes this a special opportunity.”
Across his professional career, Taufete’e has built a reputation as a powerful finisher, dynamic ball carrier, and momentum creator from the front row. His proven MLR output and experience add a significant weapon to the California Legion forward pack as the club builds toward 2026.
