With fierce competition among the 68 SoCal Youth Rugby teams registered and over 800 players, their families and friends in attendance, the 2022 Cal State Rugby Games did not disappoint. Legion Community Foundation were thrilled to host this year's tournament after a two-year hiatus brought forth by the pandemic with San Diego Legion players and staff supporting the day's events, held at Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos, California, on July 16th.
SD Legion Defensive Coach and Academy Director, Jack Wiggins, took the lead in organizing the brackets for all divisions this year. Wiggins on the tournament: “Overall it was a great day of rugby made more special by the absence of the games for the past two years. It was great to see all the players out there enjoying themselves, playing hard & embracing the core values of rugby”.
We are extremely proud of the players, coaches and volunteers who make it possible for these teams to come together and learn the values of sportsmanship, competition and teamwork through rugby. A special thank you to all the volunteers, California State Games, SoCal Youth Rugby, the SCYR referees and officials for all the work contributed to the success of the day and leading up to the event.
Congratulations to all the division winners, teams big and small, players novice or experienced - the Legion Community Foundation aims to inspire young athletes and promote the importance of education, health and respect.
SD Legion Head Coach, Danny Lee was in attendance to present award medals for the winner and runner-up teams in each division. Coach Lee commented “What a wonderful weekend of sport in San Diego. After endless hours of organizing and preparing to hold the 2022 Cal State Games it all went off without a hitch. A beautiful San Diego day saw multiple teams ranging from U10’s through to U18’s playing through round robin and capped off by finals rugby.
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of rugby in all divisions and even more impressed by the attitude, commitment and sheer enjoyment from each and every player participating in the tournament. To see the passion of rugby running through their veins at such a young age left me with high hopes for the future of USA rugby. I also had the honor of handing out the runner-up and winner medals in all divisions after the finals and this in itself was one of the more satisfying moments of the day. From 10 to 18 year olds, they all filled their respective club jerseys with pride and were over the moon when awarded a medal at the end of a long hot day.
I’d like to thank all the San Diego Legion staff who put in the effort and hard work to ensure a successful and memorable tournament for all those that attended. Bring on 2023.”
View photos and relive some of the action, tackles, and tries from this past weekend. [link to LCF gallery]
As we look ahead to 2023, we are excited to have the San Diego Legion play its home matches next year at Snapdragon Stadium. Our team remains dedicated to creating a world-class rugby organization and winning a championship for San Diego in the near future. The support from our fans and community will be critical to our success next season and seasons to come.
Go Legion!