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It was a bumpy ride that started slowly, but the Hounds pushed through to earn their first-ever playoff appearance and first-ever playoff win in just their second campaign. The season came to a close against the eventual champion New England Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference final.
More changes have been made to the squad though there is a core group still in place with 23 returning players. The most notable alterations come at the head of the rugby department with an entirely new coaching staff taking charge at SeatGeek Stadium.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
TEAM HISTORY
| YEAR | SEASON | RANK | FINALS |
| 2023 | 3-13 | 10 of 12 | – |
| 2024 | 8-7-1 | 6 of 12 | 1-1 |
COACHING STAFF
The tenure of Sam Harris as Head Coach came to a close just three weeks before the end of the regular season. A string of disappointing results led his assistant Rob Webber to take over for the remainder of the campaign. Harris is now the Attack Coach for LA, while Webber returned to the English Premiership as an Assistant Forwards Coach with Saracens.
Former Wallabies fullback Chris Latham is the new Head Coach, joining his third MLR club. He served as an assistant at Seattle last season and was previously Head Coach for Utah in 2020. Latham will be assisted by fellow Australian Todd Dammers, who takes charge of the forwards, while ex-Toronto Arrows and Ireland international Noel Reid will manage the backs.
(D) = domestic, (I) = international
bold numbers indicate games played/started for 2024, and career MLR caps
FRONT ROW
| MLR 2024 | POS | MLR 2025 |
| (I) Zura Zhvania 5/5 (I) Nicolás Revol 5/4 (D) Fred Apulu 14/1 (D) Alu Taito 0/0 |
LH | 72 Faka’osi Pifeleti (D) 5 Zura Zhvania (I) 0 Liam Fletcher (I) 0 Alex Hernandez (D) |
| (D) Dylan Fawsitt 18/15 (I) Janus Venter 10/1 (I) Guillermo Pujadas 8/2 (D) Sam Faoagali 0/0 |
HO | 98 Dylan Fawsitt (D) 14 Will Vakalahi (D) 10 Janus Venter (I) 6 Jackson Zabierek (D) |
| (D) Paddy Ryan 15/11 (I) Charlie Abel 16/10 (I) Ignacio Péculo 14/6 (D) Juan Pen 0/0 |
TH | 69 Paddy Ryan (D) 62 Charlie Abel (I) 14 Ignacio Péculo (I) 5 Koby Baker (D) |
A knee injury ended Zura Zhvania’s season early, leading to the acquisition of Argentina XV loosehead Nicolás Revol. The latter has since joined Dogos in Super Rugby Americas, while reserve loosehead Fred Apulu has moved to Utah. Once-capped USA international Oti Pifeleti joins from San Diego in a bid to revamp his Eagles chances and add competition for the No1 shirt.
Uruguayan international Ignacio Péculo was perhaps undervalued in 2024 and should feature more prominently this season. Though more experienced at tighthead, he could provide cover at loosehead while Zhvania returns to full fitness. Veteran duo Charlie Abel and Paddy Ryan round out the senior tighthead options.
Koby Baker provides further tighthead cover, making the move from Seattle, while versatile prop Alex Hernandez was picked up in the Collegiate Draft. Liam Fletcher arrives from Australia to round out the loosehead stable.
At hooker Dylan Fawsitt is set to become MLR’s first centurion with Janus Venter returning as primary backup. Jackson Zabierek follows Baker from Seattle and his preseason form suggests he will be challenging Venter for the No16 shirt. Will Vakalahi – a former Old Glory and USA u20 prop – has been elevated from Chicago’s academy roster to continue his change of positions.
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
 |
 |
 |
| Zura Zhvania |
Dylan Fawsitt |
Ignacio Péculo |
| 33 yrs | 34 yrs | 25 yrs |
| 5’10” / 1.78m | 6′ / 1.83m | 6’3″ / 1.91m |
| 250lbs / 114kg | 235lbs / 107kg | 270lbs / 123kg |
| GEO 41 caps | USA 29 caps | URU 21 caps |
SECOND ROW
| MLR 2024 | POS | MLR 2025 |
| (I) James Scott 17/17 (I) George Merrick 15/12 (D) Brad Tucker 13/0 (D) Mike Matarazzo 2/1 (D) Sam Peri 1/0 |
LO | 70 Brad Tucker (D) 17 James Scott (I) 15 George Merrick (I) 0 Hamish Bain (I) 0 Tavius Sykora-Matthess |
James Scott established himself as one of the best locks in MLR last season, and while George Merrick had a slow start the big man made a big impression down the stretch. Merrick will have hot competition for his starting role from former Scotland u20 cap Hamish Bain, who has been signed after spending last season with Vannes in the French Pro D2.
Brad Tucker was the top choice for bench cover last year and should be again, though USA u23 select Tavius Sykora-Matthess will also see time after playing with the American Raptors in 2024. Sam Peri remains with the club’s academy side while Mike Matarazzo is currently without a club.
| 4 | 5 |
 |
 |
| James Scott |
George Merrick |
| 25 yrs | 32 yrs |
| 6’6″ / 1.98m | 6’8″ / 2.03m |
| 255lbs / 117kg | 265lbs / 120kg |
| ENG u20 | ENG u20 |
BACK ROW
| MLR 2024 | POS | MLR 2025 |
| (I) Maclean Jones 18/15 (D) Mason Flesch 16/15 (D) Lucas Rumball 12/5 (D) Ben Landry 8/6 (D) Ethan Parkins 0/0 |
FL | 65 Lucas Rumball (D) 55 Maclean Jones (I) 43 Mason Flesch (D) 0 Jake Kinneeveauk (D) |
| (D) Luke White 15/10 (I) Conall Boomer 11/8 (D) Tinashe Muchena 2/1 |
N8 | 77 Luke White (D) 11 Conall Boomer (I) 0 Matthew Oworu (D) |
Back row was a position of strength for Chicago in 2024 and will be again this year. Former Arrows standout Mason Flesch emerged as an ever-present on the blindside flank while fellow Canadian international Lucas Rumball settled for a bench role. Maclean Jones was instead the preferred openside, and that configuration looks likely to stay intact initially though Rumball could yet force his way back in.
Conall Boomer is also a blindside option though the Northern Irishman looks to be in competition with USA cap Luke White and incoming Canadian Matthew Oworu for the No8 shirt. Jake Kinneeveauk is a powerful ball carrier who hails from Alaska and was selected in the Collegiate Draft, earning highly positive reviews from his fall season with the academy.
Eagles strongman Ben Landry opted to retire at the end of the season, while Tinashe Muchena’s future is currently unclear. Ethan Parkins was injured before he got a chance to make his pro debut, and has now returned to Loughborough University in England to complete his studies.
| 6 | 7 | 8 |
 |
 |
 |
| Mason Flesch |
Maclean Jones |
Luke White |
| 25 yrs | 28 yrs | 33 yrs |
| 6’5″ / 1.96m | 6’1″ / 1.86m | 6’3″ / 1.91m |
| 250lbs / 113kg | 230lbs / 104kg | 255lbs / 116kg |
| CAN 13 caps | AUS u20 | USA 5 caps |
HALFBACKS
| MLR 2024 | POS | MLR 2025 |
| (D) Nick McCarthy 16/13 (D) Jason Higgins 13/5 (D) Michael Baska 5/0 (D) Sid Shoop 1/0 |
SH | 58 Michael Baska (D) 46 Jason Higgins (D) 0 Mitch Short (I) |
| (I) Adriaan Carelse 18/16 (D) Luke Carty 11/10 (I) Kian Meadon 1/1 |
FH | 55 Adriaan Carelse (I) 11 Kian Meadon (I) 0 Tim Swiel (I) |
Undoubtedly the most controversial department last season for Chicago was at halfback. Harris raised eyebrows by selecting midfielder Billy Meakes at No10 over established Eagles international Luke Carty. The move did not pay off and ultimately played a significant part in the coaching change. Adriaan Carelse took the role after the Meakes experiment but Carty was reinstated immediately when Webber took over.
Carty and Meakes are now both gone, to NOLA and LA respectively, so it’s long-time professional Tim Swiel who is expected to take the No10 shirt after arriving from Saracens. Carelse remains a creative option at flyhalf or fullback and should feature in the match day 23 more often than not. Former South Africa u20 select Kian Meadon was a late arrival and played just one game in 2024.
At scrumhalf it’s another newcomer who is set to take the lead following the retirement of Nick McCarthy. Mitch Short has played Super Rugby as recently as 2020, and the Australian spent the past three years in France – most recently with Béziers. He’ll have a pair of internationals on his heels – the USA’s Michael Baska and Canada’s Jason Higgins. Sid Shoop remains in the academy squad with his one appearance last season surprisingly coming as a replacement flanker.
| 9 | 10 |
 |
 |
| Mitch Short |
Tim Swiel |
| 29 yrs | 31 yrs |
| 5’10” / 1.77m | 5’11” / 1.81m |
| 180lbs / 82kg | 200lbs/ 90kg |
| AUS Schools | RSA Schools |
MIDFIELD
| MLR 2024 | POS | MLR 2025 |
| (I) Billy Meakes 16/16 (I) Caolan Dooley 4/0 |
IC | 0 Ollie Devoto (I) 0 Noah Flesch (D) |
| (D) Bryce Campbell 15/14 (D) Mark O’Keeffe 14/10 (D) Cassh Maluia 7/2 |
OC | 70 Mark O’Keeffe (D) 67 Bryce Campbell (D) 0 Peyton Wall (D) |
With Meakes gone, the No12 shirt has been earmarked for two-time England international Ollie Devoto. A big body with the passing skills of a flyhalf, only injury deprived him from further test honors. At outside center the choice for Latham will be between the leadership and physicality of Bryce Campbell, or the strike-running ability of Mark O’Keeffe. Both are now USA internationals with the latter making his test debut in the fall. O’Keeffe is also an option on the wing.
Noah Flesch joins older brother Mason on the roster, having himself debuted for Canada in November, while Draft pick Peyton Wall rounds out the midfield options. Caolan Dooley has departed after seeing little game time, while ex-NFL signing Cassh Maluia recently suited up for the Hounds academy side.
| 12 | 13 |
 |
 |
| Ollie Devoto |
Bryce Campbell |
| 31 yrs | 30 yrs |
| 6’4″ / 1.93m | 6’1″ / 1.86m |
| 225lbs / 102kg | 220lbs / 101kg |
| ENG 2 caps | USA 47 caps |
OUTSIDE BACKS
| MLR 2024 | POS | MLR 2025 |
| (D) Nate Augspurger 15/15 (I) Julián Domínguez 11/9 (D) Noah Brown 13/7 |
WI | 73 Nate Augspurger (D) 55 Julián Domínguez (I) 13 Noah Brown (D) 9 Michael Hand (D) |
| (I) Dave Kearney 9/8 (D) Willis Goodwin 1/0 |
FB | 7 Sam Walsh (D) 0 Ben Pollack (D) |
It’s mostly the same options on the wing with rising star Noah Brown pushing veterans Julian Dominguez and Nate Augspurger for playing time. Augspurger remains an Eagles regular but at the age of 35 is nearing the end of his test career. Brown debuted for the Eagles last year, while 6’4″ (1.93m) Michael Hand is an imposing figure who impressed on loan with Miami last season.
Carelse is the most experienced option at fullback, but there are high hopes for newcomer Ben Pollack. The 24-year-old earned Australia u20 squad selection in 2021 but is US-eligible, and he is tipped to make a splash not only with Chicago but also the Eagles. Sam Walsh is another youngster who could make an impact either at fullback or flyhalf. It was the No10 shirt where he impressed with the Hounds academy in the fall after making the move from LA.
| 11 | 14 | 15 |
 |
 |
 |
| Julián Domínguez |
Nate Augspurger |
Ben Pollack |
| 28 yrs | 35 yrs | 24 yrs |
| 6’2″ / 1.89m | 5’7″ / 1.71m | 6’1″ / 1.86m |
| 220lbs / 99kg | 180lbs / 81kg | 205lbs / 93kg |
| ARG XV | USA 49 caps | AUS u20 |
2025 OUTLOOK
Expectations were high in 2024 and will be again this year, with a more consistent showing during the regular season and another Conference Final appearance the target. Latham is somewhat inexperienced in the lead role, but has served a long-enough apprenticeship to get his shot with a quality outfit.
Overall the squad is well-rounded and boasts greater depth this season with the majority capable of starting on day one if called upon. That competition for spots should translate into success and on paper Chicago should be considered Eastern Conference contenders.
