Rising No. 10 Returns to California
California Legion welcomes fly-half Matt Anticev for the 2026 season. The 2024 RFCLA Rookie of the Year brings intelligence, composure, and continued upside to Legion’s playmaking group.
Matt Anticev joins California Legion after two seasons in Major League Rugby with RFCLA. The New York native has steadily built experience at the professional level while earning recognition as one of the league’s emerging domestic fly-halves.
A product of Staten Island, Anticev developed his game at Xavier High School under former Rugby New York scrum-half and capped USA Eagle Mike Petri. He later graduated from the College of the Holy Cross before completing a Master’s degree at Dartmouth, balancing academics and rugby throughout.
Anticev declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected fifth overall in the first round. After the franchise relocation to Los Angeles, he began his professional career with Rugby FC LA and quickly earned opportunities at fly-half during his rookie campaign.
In 2024, Anticev made six appearances with two starts, showing composure in game management and distribution. His performances earned him RFCLA Rookie of the Year honors, recognizing his impact in his first professional season.
He added further appearances in 2025 as RFCLA reached its first postseason. Across two seasons, Anticev accumulated valuable minutes at fly-half, a key position in modern MLR structures.
Now joining California Legion, Anticev adds depth and long-term potential to the No. 10 channel. His familiarity with professional systems and continued development trajectory position him to compete and contribute in 2026.
