Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

Chicago Hounds
Full nameChicago Hounds
Founded2022 (2022)
LocationBridgeview, Illinois
GroundSeatGeek Stadium[1][2] (Capacity: 20,000)
CEOJames English[3]
CoachChris Latham[4]
CaptainLucas Rumball
Most capsMaclean Jones (49)
Top scorerLuke Carty (127)
Most triesDylan Fawsitt (23)
LeagueMajor League Rugby
2025Eastern Conference: 2nd
Playoffs: Conference Runner-up
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]

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

For player movements before and during the 2026 season, see List of 2025–26 Major League Rugby transfers § Chicago Hounds.

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.

Player Position Union
Tomás Bekerman* Hooker Argentina
Theo Fourie Hooker South Africa
Jackson Zabierek Hooker United States
Charlie Abel** Prop Australia
Koby Baker Prop United States
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop United States
Wilton Rebolo Prop Brazil
Jake Turnbull Prop United States
Luke White Prop United States
Tomás Casares Lock United States
Nathan Den Hoedt* Lock Australia
Brandon Harvey Lock United States
Malcolm May Lock United States
Emmanuel Albert Back row United States
Mason Flesch Back row Canada
Maclean Jones Back row Australia
Jake Kinneeveauk Back row United States
Matt Oworu Back row Canada
Lucas Rumball (c) Back row Canada
Player Position Union
Michael Baska Scrum-half United States
Ruben de Haas Scrum-half United States
Mathis Demandolx Scrum-half United States
Reece Botha* Fly-half South Africa
Christopher Hilsenbeck Fly-half United States
Ollie Devoto Centre England
Tiaan Loots* Centre South Africa
Tavite Lopeti Centre United States
Noah Brown Wing United States
Mark O'Keeffe Wing United States
Jason Tidwell Wing United States
Peyton Wall Wing United States
Santiago Videla Fullback Chile
Brock Webster Fullback Canada
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • ** denotes non-American players playing as domestic players (maximum of four per matchday-23).

Head coaches

Assistant coaches

  • Todd Dammers, Defense, Forwards Coach (2025–present)
  • Noel Reid, Attack, Backs Coach (2025–present)
  • Jamie Beamish, Head of Performance/Strength & Conditioning (2023–present)

Records

Season standings

Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2023 Western 5th 16 3 0 13 327 497 -170 8 20 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2024 Eastern 3rd 16 8 1 7 454 387 +67 11 45 2 1 1 62 44 +18 Won East Conference Eliminator Game (New Orleans Gold)
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks)
2025 Eastern 2nd 16 11 0 5 422 353 +69 9 52 2 1 1 47 37 +10 Won East Conference Semifinal (Old Glory DC)
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks)
Totals 48 22 1 25 1,203 1,237 -34 28 117 4 2 2 109 81 +28 2 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.

Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result
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 Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 34–31
March 18 Dallas Jackals Home SeatGeek Stadium Won, 24–22
March 26 Seattle Seawolves Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 27–5
April 2 Houston SaberCats Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 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 Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 37–24
May 6 Rugby ATL Away Silverbacks Park Lost, 27–12
May 14 New York Ironworkers Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 21–20
May 20 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Complex Lost, 35–13
May 27 Houston SaberCats Away SaberCats Stadium Lost, 40–33
June 3 San Diego Legion Home SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 14–36
June 10 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Won, 26–24
June 17 Dallas Jackals Away 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. ^ a b "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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