MLR Updates – January 2021

San Diego Legion Move Home Games to Vegas; Luke Campbell Signs with Old Glory in DC

With MLR about to start in just over 7 weeks, teams may be getting a little nervous about local COVID rules and regulations in their area. The San Diego team acted decisively and announced they’re playing home games in neighbouring Nevada, and where else but in Vegas, about 400km away as the crow flies.

Other MLR news sees Luke Campbell sign with Old Glory DC to join fellow Vancouver Islander Doug Fraser. Ten years ago Campbell was captaining the Oak Bay High School team as they reclaimed the Gareth Rees boot trophy from SMUS in a 41-0 hiding. As the 2011 article mentions Campbell is the son of 1984 L.A. Olympic silver-medallist rower Marilyn Campbell and UVic rowing coach Howie Campbell. After graduating Oak Bay he had planned to play for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in Brisbane. The 2011 article quoted Campbell, “I’ll see how far I can go in the sport.” Ten years later, pretty far seems to be the answer.

NBC San Diego

When the San Diego Legion return to the field in 2021 they won’t do so in San Diego.

The team announced Monday that they will play home matches in Las Vegas, “due to the impact of COVID-19 in Southern California”.

In 2020 the team played a match against the Colorado Rapids at Sam Boyd Stadium, the home of UNLV’s football team. That was part of a perfect 5-0 run, prior to Major League Rugby’s season being cut short because of the pandemic.

The league is scheduled to return in March, with San Diego’s 16-match slate beginning March 21 at “home” against Utah. They aren’t the only local team to move its home games out of town this year. The Gulls will start the season playing in Irvine – in closer proximity to their NHL affiliate, the Anaheim Ducks. They plan to stay there until fans are allowed to attend games at Pechanga Arena.

Old Glory DC

Old Glory DC is proud to announce the signing of Canadian International, Luke Campbell.

With thirteen international matches to his name, Campbell comes to Washington after spending the 2019 MLR season with Toronto Arrows. The Arrows finished that season with eleven wins and five losses, seeding the Canadian team into the MLR playoffs, where Toronto lost to the 2019 MLR Champion Seattle Seawolves in the first round.

Hailing from Victoria, BC, Campbell plays at eight-man and made his international debut with Canada against the United States on February 10th, 2018. In 2019, Campbell had the honor of representing Canada during the Rugby World Cup. He made his first World Cup appearance against Italy on September 29th in Canada’s opening match of the tournament. Campbell will rejoin Canadian teammates Doug Fraser and Ciaran Hearn with Old Glory for the 2021 season.

“I was watching all the games from last year and chatting with Head Coach Andrew Douglas and Ciaran about the team before I even started talking to Andrew, and they spoke very highly about the whole experience,” said Campell. “from the city to the players and the organization as a whole. The long layoff due to Covid 19 has only accentuated that excitement. I’m looking forward to getting down to DC and finally meeting everyone.”

Aside from training and playing for Old Glory DC in the upcoming season, Campbell is most excited to find out what the Greater Washington area has to offer.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to experience DC. Everyone I have talked to has raved about it. The famous sites and museums are something that will be really cool to go out and explore. Lastly, people I talked to who played for and against Old Glory always talked about how great the atmosphere at games was last year. Hoping the fans follow the team to Segra field so I get to experience that as well.”

Posted in MLR.