NEWS

SAN DIEGO LEGION – RETURNING TO THE PLAYOFFS, HARD WORK, AND SNAPDRAGON STADIUM

WRITTEN BY JOE HARVEY |  PHOTOS BY JOHN MATTHEW HARRISON

In 2022, the San Diego Legion made their return to the postseason for the first time since 2019. Having missed out in 2021 with a 6-10 record, under the guidance of new head coach Danny Lee this year, the team found themselves in the Western Eliminator against the Seattle Seawolves. When last the two teams faced off in postseason play, San Diego and Seattle were in the 2019 Championship game, where the Seawolves crowned themselves as two-time Major League Rugby champions. When the two teams came toe to toe last June, Seattle prevailed once more. With a final score of 43-19, the Legion is now hoping to grow even further in the 2023 season.

RETURNING TO THE PLAYOFFS

In Southern California, Danny Lee’s preparations for the new season are well underway. After a first season at the helm of San Diego, he has learned plenty about the league and has a plan for exactly how to take his team to a new level in 2023.

Thanks to the new and exciting competition, Lee is drawn to Major League Rugby and has thrown himself into life as a head coach in one of world rugby’s latest professional competitions. As a player, Lee played for all four of New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams and, in 2002, played two Test matches for the All Blacks.

Retiring in 2011 after spending time in Wales with Dragons, the 46-year-old threw himself into coaching with Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand and Mie Honda Heat in Japan before North America caught his eye.

Arriving in America in late December, Lee met up with his new squad and coaching staff just several weeks before the new MLR season got underway.
It meant the time to implement the team’s game plan was shorter than preferred. Still, even without the perfect preparation, the side would make the postseason after the disqualification of the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis from the playoffs.

“We started pretty well. We won four out of the first five games, and things were cruising along,” Lee said. “There were a few cracks here and there. It is hard to put my finger on it, but I think it comes to the continuity, the new coaching group, and the new styles we were trying to implement within the group of guys.

“By the time we got halfway through the season, we had a little more buy-in from the players. They could understand what I was trying to do, our goals around that season, and what we were trying to achieve. But it did take its time.

“To be honest, we didn’t really nail some of the oppor