MLR 2026 – Week 1 – California Legion vs Anthem RC

The 9th season of Major League Rugby begins at a new venue. Championship Stadium at Irvine’s Great Park will host the California Legion, an amalgamation of the former San Diego Legion and RFC Los Angeles. Their opponent will be Anthem Rugby Carolina, based in Charlotte, who remain in search of their first franchise victory after back-to-back winless campaigns.

MLR DEBUTS

	PLAYER	PREVIOUS CLUB
10	Coby Miln	Warringah (AU)

	PLAYER	PREVIOUS CLUB
2	Campbell Robb	Central Washington University
4	Will Sherman	UCLA
12	Tom Pittman	Chartres (FR)
16	Ramiro Gurovich	Pampas (AR)
20	Baden Godfrey	Northern Suburbs (AU)

NOTES

there is some continuity in the California side, with Steve Hoiles absorbing more than a dozen of his LA players into the new squad… but only four of them start against Anthem, with three who played with San Diego last year… four arrive from Utah, with one starter each from NOLA, Miami, and Houston
the only player entirely new to MLR for the Legion is flyhalf Coby Miln… the 26-year-old New Zealander was the leading scorer in Australia’s Shute Shield for each of the past two seasons… he also made a Super Rugby debut with the Western Force in 2025
two California starters return to MLR after spending recent months in Europe… tighthead prop Tonga Kofe was with Leicester Tigers, playing three Premiership Rugby Cup matches… fullback Steffan Crimp was a regular starter in the No10 shirt with Cardiff RFC in the Welsh Premiership
Agustín Cavalieri is in his second campaign with Anthem… initially Forwards Coach, he took over the lead role from Alama Ieremia for the last five games of the 2025 season… ‘Cuca’ also overseas the forwards with the senior USA Eagles squad
College Draft picks Will Sherman and Campbell Robb, selected 1st and 2nd overall respectively in 2025, will get an immediate chance to test themselves at the pro level… both players featured for the USA u23 squad on their tour to South Africa this past year
other newcomers to MLR for Anthem are versatile back Tom Pittman, who debuted with the Eagles in 2025, Argentinean hooker Ramiro Gurovich, and Australian loose forward Baden Godfrey… Gurovich has represented the Argentina XV while Godfrey was in the wider training squad of Australia u20 and 7s sides
domestic players making their Anthem debut include Payton Telea-Ilalio (via San Diego), James Scott (Chicago), Johan Momsen (Houston), Moni Tonga’uiha, Luke Carty, and Julian Roberts (all NOLA), Zion Going and Jordan Trainor (both Utah), Marques Fuala’au (Miami), Alessandro Heaney and Will Leonard (both LA)
neither team played a formal preseason match, though the Legion did have a scrimmage session with the Mexican national team two weeks ago

QUOTES

Steve Hoiles (Head Coach)

“There’s a lot of guys I’ve coached before, whether at RFCLA, the Giltinis, or in club rugby, so they understand how we want to play and have helped bring the new guys along. I feel like we’re ready. Anthem will be fired up, they’ve recruited well, and it should be a tough game in round one.”

“We haven’t had a trial match, so there’s some uncertainty, but we’ve worked hard to make sure we’re ready for the intensity and physicality from the start.”

Agustín Cavalieri (Head Coach)

“We have a new identity and a new vision. The new players know what this club needs, but we don’t want them worrying about losses from the past. Build culture, habits and values — the leaders have all bought into this.”

PREDICTION

Warm weather with a slight breeze awaits the players at Great Park. The Legion are expected to employ a similar rapid-fire approach that LA favored in 2025. Veteran Argentina scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou will keep the tempo high, but Anthem have a more physical forward pack. Expect both teams to make mistakes, and match fitness will be tested. With a short season this year, the Legion can’t afford to slip up on day one. California are favorites at home in Irvine.

TEAMS

CALIFORNIA LEGION
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Keni Nasoqeqe, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Lance Williams, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Ben Houston, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Coby Miln, 11 Ryan James, 12 Nick Chan, 13 Cole Semu, 14 Joe Mano, 15 Steffan Crimp

Replacements: 16 Ben Sugars, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Michael Scott, 19 Justus Tavai, 20 Chase Jones, 21 Ed Timpson, 22 Tas Smith, 23 Cassh Maluia

ANTHEM RC
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Campbell Robb, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Will Sherman, 5 James Scott, 6 Johan Momsen, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Makeen Alikhan, 9 Zion Going, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julian Roberts, 12 Tom Pittman, 13 Erich Storti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Jordan Trainor

Replacements: 16 Ramiro Gurovich, 17 Alessandro Heaney, 18 Alex Hernandez, 19 Sam Golla, 20 Baden Godfrey, 21 Karl Keane, 22 Marques Fuala’au, 23 Will Leonard

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, March 28
Venue: Championship Stadium, Irvine
Kickoff: 15:00 local (18:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 80°F (27°C), wind W 10-15 mph (16-24 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), WCCB Charlotte (Local), Premier Sports (International)