San Diego Legion re-signed Aaron Mitchell for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old tighthead prop (25 in March) is 6’3″, and 295 lbs.
Aaron played as a reserve for all five games during the truncated 2020 MLR season and the Legion was the only team to be undefeated. That made them favorites for the MLR Shield, however, due to COVID-19 canceling the remainder of the season, the team will need to step up again in 2021.
During the 2019 season, he played 239 minutes in 12 matches, starting one. He had 19 carries for 88 meters and made 40 tackles. In 2018 he played 156 minutes in 7 matches, starting one.
Following the conclusion of the 2019 season, Aaron traveled to South Africa and attended the International Rugby Institute.
Aaron was born in Oceanside, California, and attended Cathedral Catholic High School where he played both football and rugby. His senior year in football he led the team to the San Diego Division 1 Championship and was named 2013 All-CIF San Diego Section First Team. He was also named the Cathedral Catholic Offensive Player of the Year. Aaron also was named All-Eastern League Offensive Lineman for two years.
Aaron also played rugby with the San Diego Mustangs in high school. He was a USA Rugby Boys High School All-American and toured England with the Under-16s. While on tour, he sang the National Anthem before a match. The following year the HSAAs Under-17s toured to New Zealand for the Wellington College International Rugby Festival. He also played in 2012 with the Southern California Griffins Under-17s.
Following his graduation from Cathedral Catholic in 2014, he attended Fresno State University from 2012-2017, where he majored in Business Administration, Sports Marketing. He continued with both rugby and football and played football in the Hawaii Bowl. He also was named to the 2017 All-Mountain Second Team in football.
He and other D1A Rugby athletes were selected to train with the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, Australia, however, an injury at the USA Rugby College Sevens National Championship precluded his participation.
Aaron played in the front row with the Legion since 2018 and is poised to make an even greater contribution to the team in 2021.
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