NA Rugby Database

Recap

The 2019 Major League Rugby Final took place on June 16th, 2019 at Torero Stadium, where the #1 seeded San Diego Legion had home advantage to face the visiting Seattle Seawolves, the reigning MLR Champions and #2 seed. These two sides had faced each other in a semifinal game in 2018, with Seattle the victors on the way to the first MLR Championship.

It was a back and forth game that San Diego looked to have secured, leading 20-14 with 10 minutes to go before Seattle showed real fight with a 71st minute try taking the score to 20-19, but missing the conversion! San Diego fly-half Joe Pietersen slotted a drop goal in the 78th minute to extend the Legion’s lead to 23-19 lead and surely securing the Championship. The Seawolves had next to no time and needed a try to claim the shield, and this is exactly what they got on the last play of the game, with Brad Tucker barrelling over to give the Seawolves a 23-24 lead.
Brock Staller nailed the conversion to put the icing on the cake, with the final score 23-26 to Seattle, who claimed back-to-back championships in 2018 & 2019. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Seattle Seawolves remain the only team to successfully defend their title.