Chicago Hounds (rugby union)

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. Their home stadium is SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. 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.

Current squad
The Chicago Hounds squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:


 * Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
 * * denotes players qualified to play for the 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)

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

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.