Young player Harris Rutherford of the GALASHIELS has signed a contract with San Diego Legion and will depart for California in the new year. The granddad Dave Wood, an American, entitles the 20-year-old fly half to play Major League Rugby in 2024.
Rutherford continues to live with his parents, Andrew and Debbie, as well as his two brothers, Mack and Finlay. He played rugby and cricket at Galashiels Academy.
“I’m eager to get started,” he declared. On January 2, I’m heading to San Diego for a pre-season stint.
It will take some getting acclimated to the heat, and my mother has already mentioned that she might visit.
“It is a professional agreement with standards that are nearly identical to the Premiership.”
“The physicality in the league is definitely pro standard, as there are several Samoans and Fijians participating.”
At the age of six, Rutherford began playing rugby for Gala. He progressed through the ranks to the first team before joining the Southern Knights.
In addition, he represented Scotland’s U16, U17, and U20 rugby teams in addition to Edinburgh’s U18 and U20 squads. He participated in a regional U16s competition in Wales in 2019 before travelling to Valladolid, Spain, with the U17s.
Despite being too old for the squad, he represented the U20s in the 2023 Six Nations U20s Championship.
“I signed with Southern Knights for the Sprint and then for the campaign after playing for Gala for two years,” he stated. “I just concluded the series, and at Dubai Sevens, I’ll be playing for the Steelers, an invitational team.
“After that, I’ll probably play a few games for Gala during my brief pre-season here before leaving, but that’s still up in the air.”
The San Diego State University campus in Mission Valley is home to the 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium, where the San Diego Legion plays.
With 15 wins and 1 loss in 16 games, they won the Western Conference title the previous season.
Danny Lee, director of rugby and head coach, said: “We are pleased to announce Harris Rutherford’s new signing.
“Harris, who most recently represented Scotland U20s, is on our way from Scotland, where he came via the Scottish pathway.
“He is determined to play for the USA Eagles in the future because his grandfather was born in the United States.
“Here at Legion, we will strive to support his development, passion, and future aspirations.”The team confirmed four new additions, including Rutherford.
The others were former Utah Warriors winger James Vaifale, New Zealand-born lock forward and blindside flanker Jay Tuivaiti, former USA Eagles U20s winger Cyrille Cama, and hooker from Fiji.
“Congratulations and good luck to Harris Rutherford who has just left school and signed his first professional rugby contract for San Diego rugby,” the former Galashiels Academy wrote. He’ll play in America for the upcoming season.