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The first Cali Cup clash of 2025 takes place at Torero Stadium in San Diego on Saturday evening, when the Legion take on RFC Los Angeles for state bragging rights. It’s been a tough start to the season for the visitors, but the side is buoyed by the return of some veteran names during the bye week. By contrast the Legion have had a dream start with three wins in succession.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
3-0-0 (W3) West 1st
0-2-0 (L2) West 5th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Vili Helu | Brandon Harvey |
| 6 | Christian Poidevin | Paddy Ryan |
| 13 | Tavite Lopeti | James Vaifale |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Dane Zander | Alessandro Heaney |
| 2 | Mike Sosene-Feagai | Ben Sugars |
| 3 | Maliu Niuafe | Cronan Gleeson |
| 7 | Matt Heaton | Ed Timpson |
| 11 | Andrew Coe | Jack Shaw |
| 14 | Christian Dyer | Seth Purdey |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Telea-Ilalio, Helu, James, Lopeti, Klein, Sylvia, Tameilau (USA), Holloway (Australia)
(9) – Sosene-Feagai, Damm, Dyer (USA), O’Gorman, Heaton, Coe (Canada), Bertranou (Argentina), Leali’ifano (Samoa), Kunatani (Fiji)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(2) – Waqavesi*, Stowers*
(1) – Wynyard*
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Paddy Ryan (FL), Connor Tupai (SH)
– Conor Young (TH), Reece MacDonald (FB)
| PREDICTION |
On form this looks an easy call. The Legion are unbeaten while playing wide open attacking rugby. It’s the same style preferred by LA, who have looked vulnerable against more confrontational forward packs. This week looks a more formidable selection up front but their hosts are the pace-setters league-wide at the moment. San Diego are clear favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Jed Holloway, 5 Vili Helu, 6 Christian Poidevin, 7 Brad Wilkin (capt.), 8 Jimmy Hokafonu, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Ryan James, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Ethan Grayson
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Tevita Tameilau, 21 Cassh Maluia, 22 Inoke Waqavesi, 23 Rhian Stowers
RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Dane Zander, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Maliu Niuafe, 4 Jason Damm (capt.), 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Ben Houston, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 11 Andrew Coe, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Nick Chan, 14 Seth Purdey, 15 Rory van Vugt
Replacements: 16 Ben Sugars, 17 Alessandro Heaney, 18 Cronan Gleeson, 19 Mikaea Wynyard, 20 Semi Kunatani, 21 Ed Timpson, 22 Tas Smith, 23 Will Leonard
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 8
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: clear, 57°F (14°C), wind NW 4-6mph (6-10km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fan Duel SoCal, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Kirk Swanner (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (5) – San Diego 3, LA/ATL 2
2024-05-26 – RFC Los Angeles 19, San Diego Legion 27 (Dignity Health Stadium)
2024-03-16 – San Diego Legion 19, RFC Los Angeles 18 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-03-18 – Rugby ATL 10, San Diego Legion 35 (Silverbacks Park)
2022-04-24 – San Diego Legion 17, Rugby ATL 30 (SDSU Sports Deck)
2021-04-03 – Rugby ATL 41, San Diego Legion 22 (Lupo Family Field)
