NEWS

Lupian and Legion make local rugby history

Helix High School and SDSU alumnus Nick Lupian completed his second year with the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby by making a historic trip to Sunday’s MLR championship game against the defending league champion Seattle Seawolves.

The top-seeded Legion dropped a heartbreaking last-second 26-23 decision to the second-seeded Seawolves, but made a statement in other areas.

The game was played in front of a live national television audience on CBS-TV and a capacity crowd (6,000) at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium.

The Legion’s championship game appearance was a gift to the San Diego County rugby community that has supported the team in ever increasing numbers over its brief two years of existence.

The disappointing result notwithstanding, it was clearly a moment for the local rugby community to feel proud.

Both teams finished the season 13-4-1 following the hard-fought match.

“Things are definitely going well for me and for the team,” Lupian acknowledged.

The Legion advanced to Sunday’s championship game in equally dramatic fashion by recording a last-minute come-from-behind 24-22 win over fourth-seeded Rugby United New York in a semifinal playoff match June 9 at Torero Stadium.

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