Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

Last updated

Chicago Hounds
Chicago hounds logo.png
Full nameChicago Hounds
Founded2022;3 years ago (2022)
Location Bridgeview, Illinois
Ground(s) SeatGeek Stadium [1] [2] (Capacity: 20,000)
CEOJames English [3]
Coach(es) Rob Webber (interim)
Captain(s) Bill Meakes
Most caps Maclean Jones (33)
Top scorer Luke Carty (127)
Most tries Julian Dominguez, Dylan Fawsitt (14)
League(s) Major League Rugby
2023 6th (Western Conference)
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1st kit
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2nd kit
Official website
www.chicagohounds.com

The Chicago Hounds are an American professional rugby union team based in Bridgeview, Illinois, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team was founded in 2022 and is co-owned by a small group of investors including majority owner Peter Bernick and part-owners (and longtime Chicago rugby players) Matt Satchwell and Phil Groves. [4] [5] [6] Their home stadium is SeatGeek Stadium. Games are broadcast on Marquee Sports Network. [7]

Contents

History

On November 17, 2022, Major League Rugby announced the Chicago Hounds as the newest expansion franchise to begin play in 2023, following the discontinuation of the MLR franchises in Austin and Los Angeles. [8] The Hounds compete in the Western Conference. [9] Their first game was against Old Glory DC on February 18, 2023. [10] The Hounds finished their inaugural season ranked 5th among the 6 teams of the Western Conference and 9th among the 12 teams then in MLR. Of their three wins that season, two were against the Dallas Jackals in a rivalry match dubbed the Dog Bowl. [11]

Home field

The team plays its home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. [12] [13]

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Chicago Hounds squad for the 2025 Major League Rugby season is: [14]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Dylan Fawsitt Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Janus Venter Hooker Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Will Vakalahi Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jackson Zabierek Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Charlie Abel Prop Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Kody Baker Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Liam Fletcher Prop Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Ignacio Péculo Prop Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Paddy Ryan Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Zurabi Zhvania Prop Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia
Hamish Bain Lock Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
Tavius Sykora-Matthess Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
George Merrick Lock Flag of England.svg England
James Scott Lock Flag of England.svg England
Brad Tucker* Lock Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Conall Boomer Back row IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Mason Flesch Back row Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Maclean Jones Back row Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Jake Kinneeveauk Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Matthew Oworu Back row Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Lucas Rumball Back row Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Luke White Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Michael Baska Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jason Higgins Scrum-half Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Mitch Short Scrum-half Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Tim Swiel Fly-half Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Kian Meadon Fly-half Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Sam Walsh Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Bryce Campbell Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ollie Devoto Centre Flag of England.svg England
Noah Flesch Centre Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Mark O'Keeffe Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Peyton Wall Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Nate Augspurger Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Noah Brown Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Julián Domínguez Wing Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Michael Hand Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Adriaan Carelse Fullback Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Ben Pollack* Fullback Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Head coaches

Assistant coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2023 Western5th163013327497-170820------Did not qualify
2024 Eastern3rd16817454387+6711452116244+18Won East Conference Eliminator Game (New Orleans Gold) 45-21
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks)
Totals3211120781884-10319652116244+181 postseason appearance

2023 season

The Hounds played 16 games in the 2023 season. Home games were played at SeatGeek Stadium. The Hounds had their first-ever regular season victory on March 18 against the Dallas Jackals.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 18 Old Glory DC Away Segra Field Lost, 42–27
March 5 Utah Warriors Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 14–10
March 11 Toronto Arrows HomeSeatGeek StadiumLost, 34–31
March 18 Dallas Jackals HomeSeatGeek StadiumWon, 24–22
March 26 Seattle Seawolves HomeSeatGeek StadiumLost, 27–5
April 2 Houston SaberCats HomeSeatGeek StadiumLost, 38–21
April 8 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 31–19
April 16 San Diego Legion Away Snapdragon Stadium Lost, 48–24
April 23 NOLA Gold HomeSeatGeek StadiumLost, 37–24
May 6 Rugby ATL Away Silverbacks Park Lost, 27–12
May 14 New York Ironworkers HomeSeatGeek StadiumLost, 21–20
May 20Seattle SeawolvesAway Starfire Sports Complex Lost, 35–13
May 27Houston SaberCatsAway SaberCats Stadium Lost, 40–33
June 3San Diego LegionHomeSeatGeek StadiumLost, 14–36
June 10Utah WarriorsAway Zions Bank Stadium Won, 26–24
June 17Dallas JackalsAway Choctaw Stadium Won, 29–28

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References

  1. ↑ Harvey, Joe (December 30, 2022). "Getting to Know the Chicago Hounds with James English & Sam Harris". OurSports Central.
  2. ↑ Pengelly, Martin (November 2, 2022). "Major League Rugby announces new team in Chicago after LA and Austin exit". the Guardian .
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Matt (November 17, 2022). "Chicago Hounds 12th Major League Rugby Team. MLR Expansion Team Details". Rugby Wrap Up.
  4. ↑ "Hounds Announce Plans for Dawg Town Block Party". Chicago Hounds. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Getting To Know The Chicago Hounds With James English & Sam Harris". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION INTO CHICAGO". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "MARQUEE SPORTS NETWORK ANNOUNCES BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH CHICAGO'S EXPANSION MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY FRANCHISE" . Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Austin and LA out for MLR 2023, Chicago set to join". Americas Rugby News. October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Major League Rugby officially announces expansion into Chicago". Major League Rugby (Press release). November 17, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Chicago Hounds Unveil Name, Logo as Major League Rugby's Newest Expansion Team". WMAQ-TV . November 17, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Dallas pushes until the very end". Major League Rugby (Press release). March 19, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  12. ↑ Rivera, Mark (November 17, 2022). "Professional rugby expands to Midwest with new team, the Chicago Hounds". WLS-TV .
  13. ↑ "Chicago Hounds Return to Dawg Town for 2024 Season". Chicago Hounds. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Chicago Hounds". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  15. ↑ Chen, I-Chun (November 18, 2022). "Meet the Chicago Hounds, Major League Rugby's latest franchise" . Chicago Business Journal ..
  16. 1 2 "Hounds Announce Experienced Staff for 2023 Season". Chicago Hounds (Press release). January 11, 2023.
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