California Legion appoint former Fijian Drua boss as new head coach

Former international referee Glen Jackson has been appointed as the new head coach of California Legion, ahead of the 2027 Major League Rugby campaign.

Legion, who finished runners-up in the 2026 season, will have Jackson’s wide range of experience to call upon in 2027, after a career as a player, referee, and head coach.

Jackson heads to California after beginning his coaching career under current Queensland Reds head coach Vern Cotter with Fiji, before transitioning into the Fijian Drua head coaching role.

The former referee was named New Zealand referee of the year on five occasions, after refereeing 88 Super Rugby matches and 32 Tests, in a range of competitions including the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations.

Jackson made 60 appearances for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, before opting to move overseas to pursue a career with Saracens, racking up over 1,500 points.

The new Legion head coach is the first New Zealander to ever play 100 first-class matches before refereeing 100 first-class matches.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining California Legion and to have the opportunity to lead the club into the 2027 season,” Jackson said.

“I’ve been fortunate that rugby has allowed me to experience the game from a number of different perspectives — as a player, referee and coach — and you learn something different from each of those environments.”

The 50-year-old is excited about the state of the game in the USA, with the 2031 Rugby World Cup on the horizon.

“California as a Rugby state has enormous potential. There is a strong rugby community, an incredible athlete and player base and a market that has the ability to become genuinely significant for the sport.

“What the organisation achieved in 2026, bringing rugby communities across California together and reaching the MLR Final in its first season, provides a great platform.

“I’m looking forward to working with the players, coaches and staff and becoming part of the rugby community across California. We want to play rugby that people enjoy watching, develop players and ultimately compete for championships.”

The California-based Major League Rugby franchise finished the 2026 regular season with five wins from ten games, in third place, before clinching a grand-final place with a narrow, 43-34 victory over the Seattle Seawolves in the semi-final.

The Chicago Hounds, who won all ten regular-season contests, were too strong for Legion in the 2026 grand final, overpowering the underdogs, 35-17 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.