Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

Last updated

Chicago Hounds
Chicago hounds logo.png
Full nameChicago Hounds
Founded2022;4 years ago (2022)
Location Bridgeview, Illinois
Ground SeatGeek Stadium [1] [2] (Capacity: 20,000)
CEOJames English [3]
Coach Chris Latham [4]
CaptainTBA
Most caps Maclean Jones (49)
Top scorer Luke Carty (127)
Most tries Dylan Fawsitt (23)
League Major League Rugby
2025 Eastern Conference: 2nd
Playoffs: Conference Runner-up
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body whitehoops.png
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Team kit
Official website
www.chicagohounds.com

The Chicago Hounds are an American professional rugby union team based in the Chicago metropolitan area 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. [5] [6] [7] Their home stadium is SeatGeek Stadium. Games are broadcast on Fox Chicago Plus. [8]

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. [9] The Hounds compete in the Eastern Conference. [10] Their first game was against Old Glory DC on February 18, 2023. [11] 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. [12]

Home field

The team plays its home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. [13] [14]

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Chicago Hounds squad for the 2026 Major League Rugby season is: [15]

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

PlayerPositionUnion
Theo Fourie Hooker Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Jackson Zabierek Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Charlie Abel** Prop Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jake Turnbull Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Nathan Den Hoedt** Lock Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Brandon Harvey Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Malcolm May Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Emmanuel Albert Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tomás Bekerman* Back row Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
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
Matt 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
Ruben de Haas Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Reece Botha* Fly-half Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Christopher Hilsenbeck Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tiaan Loots** Centre Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Tavite Lopeti Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Noah Brown Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Mark O'Keeffe Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Peyton Wall Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Brock Webster Wing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Santiago Videla Fullback Flag of Chile.svg Chile

Head coaches

Assistant coaches

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)
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks)
2025 Eastern2nd161105422353+699522114737+10Won East Conference Semifinal (Old Glory DC)
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks)
Totals48221251,2031,237-342811742210981+282 postseason appearances

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

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. 1 2 "Chicago Hounds appoint new head coach". chicagohounds.com. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Hounds Announce Plans for Dawg Town Block Party". Chicago Hounds. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Getting To Know The Chicago Hounds With James English & Sam Harris". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION INTO CHICAGO". Major League Rugby. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Chicago Hounds Announce Broadcast Partnership with Fox Chicago Plus".
  9. ↑ "Austin and LA out for MLR 2023, Chicago set to join". Americas Rugby News. October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Major League Rugby officially announces expansion into Chicago". Major League Rugby (Press release). November 17, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Chicago Hounds Unveil Name, Logo as Major League Rugby's Newest Expansion Team". WMAQ-TV . November 17, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Dallas pushes until the very end". Major League Rugby (Press release). March 19, 2023. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ Rivera, Mark (November 17, 2022). "Professional rugby expands to Midwest with new team, the Chicago Hounds". WLS-TV .
  14. ↑ "Chicago Hounds Return to Dawg Town for 2024 Season". Chicago Hounds. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Chicago Hounds". North American Rugby Database. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  16. ↑ Chen, I-Chun (November 18, 2022). "Meet the Chicago Hounds, Major League Rugby's latest franchise" . Chicago Business Journal ..
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