North American Rugby Database

Report

The California Legion host Old Glory DC at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, CA during Round 9 of the 2026 MLR season. This game marks both the first Major League Rugby game played in Sacramento, and the second leg of the 2026 ‘Shield Showdown’ for a Sunday Night Rugby marquee matchup.

The Legion enter this game having given the undefeated Chicago Hounds their biggest test of the season in Round 7, but still fell to 3rd in the standings behind the Seattle Seawolves. A win here would even up their record at 4-4, and would almost guarantee them a spot in the postseason. Their rivals, Old Glory DC, currently occupy the final playoff spot only 3pts above the Free Jacks and Anthem. A win on the road in California would be enormous for their playoff push and put them into 3rd.

Although the Legion opened the scoring early through Corbin Smith, the first quarter of this game was a role reversal from what we’ve seen from these teams so far this season. The California Legion, usually dominant in possession, had to put in some long, strong defensive efforts to keep Old Glory DC (usually happy to defend) at bay. The Flags got on the board through John Rizzo about 10 minutes after Smith opened the scoring, but the momentum began to shift after the first hydration break. Legion captain Jason Damm crossed to restore the host’s 7pt lead, and a dagger on the stroke of half time from Tonga Kofe took the Legion’s lead to 21-5 at the break.

The Flags managed a second try from Bart Vermeulen in the 53rd minute, but not before Corbin Smith doubled up a few minutes earlier, and that would be the final score for Old Glory DC. Despite numerous entries into the Legion 22, the Flags could not execute in the red zone, with mistakes creeping in at critical times, giving the Legion easy outs. The Legion meanwhile, grew more clinical on attack as the game went, and scored another two tries within 2 minutes not long after the 2nd hydration break to blow the visitors away. This one finishes 42-10 to the California Legion, who jump back into 2nd place over the Seattle Seawolves. Old Glory DC fail to pick up any points, and drop to 5th after the Free Jacks’ victory over Anthem RC. DC are down but not out, and need to finish strong if they want to play rugby in mid-june.