# Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

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. Their home stadium is SeatGeek Stadium. Games are broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.

## 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. The Hounds compete in the Western Conference. Their first game was against Old Glory DC on February 18, 2023. 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.

## Home field

The team plays its home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.

## Players and personnel
### Current squad

The Chicago Hounds squad for the 2025 Major League Rugby season is:
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Dylan Fawsitt | Hooker | United States |
| Janus Venter | Hooker | South Africa |
| Will Vakalahi | Hooker | United States |
| Jackson Zabierek | Hooker | United States |
| Charlie Abel | Prop | Australia |
| Kody Baker | Prop | United States |
| Liam Fletcher | Prop | Australia |
| Ignacio Péculo | Prop | Uruguay |
| Fakaʻosi Pifeleti | Prop | United States |
| Paddy Ryan | Prop | United States |
| Zurabi Zhvania | Prop | Georgia |
| Hamish Bain | Lock | Scotland |
| Tavius Sykora-Matthess | Lock | United States |
| George Merrick | Lock | England |
| James Scott | Lock | England |
| Brad Tucker* | Lock | New Zealand |
| Conall Boomer | Back row | Ireland |
| Mason Flesch | Back row | Canada |
| Maclean Jones | Back row | Australia |
| Jake Kinneeveauk | Back row | United States |
| Matthew Oworu | Back row | Canada |
| Lucas Rumball | Back row | Canada |
| Luke White | Back row | United States |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Michael Baska | Scrum-half | United States |
| Jason Higgins | Scrum-half | Canada |
| Mitch Short | Scrum-half | New Zealand |
| Christopher Hilsenbeck | Fly-half | Germany |
| Kian Meadon | Fly-half | South Africa |
| Tim Swiel | Fly-half | South Africa |
| Sam Walsh | Fly-half | United States |
| Bryce Campbell | Centre | United States |
| Ollie Devoto | Centre | England |
| Noah Flesch | Centre | Canada |
| Mark O'Keeffe | Centre | United States |
| Peyton Wall | Centre | United States |
| Nate Augspurger | Wing | United States |
| Noah Brown | Wing | United States |
| Julián Domínguez | Wing | Argentina |
| Michael Hand | Wing | United States |
| Adriaan Carelse | Fullback | South Africa |
| Ben Pollack* | Fullback | Australia |
* 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

* Sam Harris (2023–2024)
* Chris Latham (2025–present)

## Assistant coaches

* Rob Webber, forwards coach (2023–present)
* Dave Clancy, attack, backs coach (2023–present)
* Jamie Beamish, Head of Performance (2023–present)

### Captains

* Bryce Campbell
* Billy Meakes
* Luke White

## Records
### Season standings

| Season | Conference | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason |
| Season | Conference | 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 | Totals | Totals | 32 | 11 | 1 | 20 | 781 | 884 | -103 | 19 | 65 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 1 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.
| 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 |