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 StadiuminBridgeview, Illinois. Games are broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.[7]
 | |||
| Full name | Chicago Hounds | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022; 2 years ago (2022) | ||
| Location | Bridgeview, Illinois | ||
| Ground(s) | SeatGeek Stadium[1][2] (Capacity: 20,000) | ||
| CEO | James English[3] | ||
| Coach(es) | Rob Webber (interim) | ||
| Captain(s) | Bill Meakes | ||
| League(s) | Major League Rugby | ||
| 2023 | 6th (Western Conference) | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
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]
The team plays its home matches at SeatGeek StadiuminBridgeview, Illinois.[12][13]
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.
Sam Harris (2023–2024)[15]
Rob Webber, forwards coach (2023-present)
Dave Clancy, attack, backs coach (2023–present)[16] Jamie Beamish, Head of Performance (2023–present)[16]| 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 | |
| Totals | 16 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 327 | 497 | -170 | 8 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 postseason appearances | |||
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 |
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