Legion beat Seawolves in 77-point thriller to book MLR Championship berth

California Legion have punched their ticket to the 2026 Major League Rugby Championship game in their inaugural season as a new franchise, overcoming a valiant Seattle Seawolves outfit 43-34 in a high-scoring semi-final.

MLR announced last July that San Diego Legion and Rugby Football Club Los Angeles had agreed in principle to come together. The Legion finished the regular season in third with a 5-5 record, which included a recent defeat to the Seawolves.

One week is a long time in rugby, with the Legion bouncing back from last week’s 33-19 loss to the Seawolves. Seattle finished the regular season in second and had home-field advantage for the knockout match, but the visitors did enough to progress.

Seattle fly-half Davy Coetzer got the match underway at Starfire Stadium, with the Washington sun bearing down onto the field in Tukwila. There was a sense of anticipation going into this semi-final and you could feel that tension during the opening exchanges.

Chicago had plenty of ball but remained stuck inside their own half for most of the opening five minutes, with a couple of scrums setting up early forward battles. The Legion would ultimately score the first points through goal-kicking ace Coby Miln.

Miln, who was the top point scorer during the MLR regular season, lined up at shot at the sticks in the 10^th minute. Ill-discipline proved a common theme for the Seawolves early, as the Legion took control early on.

Australian-born MLR veteran Billy Meakes sparked a try soon after, sending USA Eagles loose forward Lance Williams on a run down the left sideline. Williams then found winger Joey Mano, who powered through a tackle attempt from Duncan Matthews to score.

It was all California for the first 20 minutes but Seattle did finally get on the board through Coetzer, who stepped up confidently to take a shot at the uprights. But Miln effectively cancelled out those points with a Legion penalty four minutes later.

Coetzer was next to strike with his second penalty of the semi-final, but it still seemed California had control of the match’s momentum. They seemed all but certain to score another five-pointer but some brave defence from Seattle changed the course of the match.

One of California’s backrowers knocked the ball on over the line, prompting Seattle to turn defence into attack on their own line. Halfback Andre Warner made a break a couple of phases later, before kicking ahead for winger Rufus McLean to score.

It’s McLean’s first start of the MLR season, with the winger touching down for one of the highlight plays of the entire 2026 campaign. Seattle levelled the score at 13-all before California regained their advantage through another Miln penalty.

The Seawolves then went down to 14 men for 20 minutes, with lock Rhyno Herbst shown a red card for a high cleanout attempt. But still, despite the odds of being down a man, Seattle still went into half-time level at 16-all after another Coetzer penalty.

California got off to a dream start to the second half, following a pinpoint 50/22 into the red zone. USA Eagles captain Jason Damm burrowed over for the score, catching a short ball and then fighting his way to the line.

But if this match had shown fans anything, you can never count out the Seawolves. Seattle hit back through a Coetzer three-pointer from 45 metres out, before the playmaker set up Divan Rossouw for a try with a superb one-handed offload.

Coetzer added the extras and was called upon for another shot off the tee, making no mistake as the No. 10 maintained his 100 per cent accuracy on the night. Seattle were out to a five-point lead with just over 20 to play.

California were down but certainly not out. Replacement Ronan Murphy powered over for his first try of the season, before a Ale Lopeti try saw the Legion race out to a commanding 11-point margin with less than 15 minutes remaining.

There was a feeling that Seattle had to score next to keep their Championship hopes alive and that’s exactly what happened. Coetzer showcased some magic to set up McLean for his second, cutting the deficit down to six with plenty of time left.

But the Legion held on. They will play the winner of the unbeaten Chicago Hounds and Old Glory DC in the MLR Championship game, which will be held in Chicago on June 28.