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Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

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The Chicago Hounds are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in Chicagoland. 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 in Bridgeview, Illinois. Games are broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.[7]

Chicago Hounds
Full nameChicago Hounds
Founded2022; 2 years ago (2022)
LocationBridgeview, Illinois
Ground(s)SeatGeek Stadium[1][2] (Capacity: 20,000)
CEOJames English[3]
Coach(es)Rob Webber (interim)
Captain(s)Bill Meakes
Most capsMaclean Jones (33)
Top scorerLuke Carty (127)
Most triesJulian Dominguez, Dylan Fawsitt (14)
League(s)Major League Rugby
20236th (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.chicagohounds.com

History

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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

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

Players and personnel

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Current squad

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For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § Chicago Hounds.

The Chicago Hounds squad for the 2024 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.

Player Position Union
Sam Faoagali* Hooker   Australia
Dylan Fawsitt Hooker   United States
Guillermo Pujadas Hooker   Uruguay
Janus Venter Hooker   South Africa
Charlie Abel Prop   Australia
Fred Apulu* Prop   Samoa
Ignacio Péculo Prop   Uruguay
Juan Pen Prop   United States
Nicolás Revol Prop   Argentina
Paddy Ryan Prop   United States
Alu Taito Prop   United States
Zurabi Zhvania Prop   Georgia
Ben Landry Lock   United States
Mike Matarazzo Lock   United States
George Merrick Lock   England
Sam Peri Lock   United States
James Scott Lock   England
Conall Boomer Back row   Ireland
Mason Flesch Back row   Canada
Maclean Jones Back row   Australia
Tinashe Muchena* Back row   Zimbabwe
Ethan Parkins* Back row   England
Lucas Rumball Back row   Canada
Brad Tucker* Back row   New Zealand
Luke White Back row   United States
Player Position Union
Michael Baska Scrum-half   United States
Jason Higgins Scrum-half   Canada
Nick McCarthy Scrum-half   United States
Sidney Shoop Scrum-half   United States
Adriaan Carelse Fly-half   South Africa
Luke Carty Fly-half   United States
Kian Meadon Fly-half   South Africa
Bryce Campbell Centre   United States
Caolan Dooley Centre   Ireland
Cassh Maluia Centre   United States
Bill Meakes (c) Centre   Australia
Mark O'Keeffe* Centre   Ireland
Nate Augspurger Wing   United States
Noah Brown Wing   United States
Daelan Denenberg* Wing   Singapore
Julián Domínguez Wing   Argentina
Willis Goodwin Fullback   United States
Dave Kearney Fullback   Ireland
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

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Assistant coaches

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  •   Rob Webber, forwards coach (2023-present)
  •   Dave Clancy, attack, backs coach (2023–present)[16]
  •   Jamie Beamish, Head of Performance (2023–present)[16]

Captains

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  • Bryce Campbell
  • Billy Meakes
  • Luke White

Records

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Season standings

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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) 45-21
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks)
Totals 32 11 1 20 781 884 -103 19 65 2 1 1 62 44 +18 1 postseason appearance

2023 season

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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

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  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 December 31, 2023.
  15. ^ Chen, I-Chun (November 18, 2022). "Meet the Chicago Hounds, Major League Rugby's latest franchise". Chicago Business Journal..
  16. ^ a b "Hounds Announce Experienced Staff for 2023 Season". Chicago Hounds (Press release). January 11, 2023.
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