Latest news with #ChicagoHounds
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Stephen Meehan names first roster as Canada coach for Belgian test in Edmonton
Cooper Coats will make his first start at fly half while fullback Brenden Black earns his first 15s cap when Canada hosts Belgium on Saturday in Stephen Meehan's first game as Canadian rugby coach. Appointed in December, Meehan officially started in April. The 59-year-old Australian succeeds Kingsley Jones, who stepped down in December after seven years at the helm. After No. 23 Belgium, the 24th-ranked Canadians face No. 16 Spain on July 18, also at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton. The Belgians are coming off a 36-17 loss Saturday to the 15th-ranked United States in Charlotte, N.C. The Americans host Spain on Saturday, also in Charlotte. Coats, who has earned the majority of his 17 caps at fullback, will partner scrum half Brock Gallagher. Black, who played for the Canadian sevens side earlier this year, could be joined by debutant Kyle Tremblay who starts on the bench. Twelve of the starters are with Major League Rugby clubs including five from the three-time champion New England Free Jacks and three from the Chicago Hounds. Flanker Lucas Rumball, one of the Hounds, continues as captain under Meehan with New England hooker Andrew Quattrin appointed vice-captain. Veteran centre Ben Lesage, vice-captain under Jones, has been ruled out of the Belgium match as he recovers from an injury sustained in the June 28 MLR championship game. Talon McMullin, who made his debut in July 2024 in a 73-12 loss to No. 7 Scotland in Ottawa and scored his first international try in a 55-28 loss to No. 12 Japan in Vancouver last August, starts at inside centre. McMullin's twin brother Takoda also made his debut in the Scotland loss, becoming the 500th men's player to earn a cap for Canada. 'We've been really pleased with our week of preparation,' Meehan said in a statement. 'The players have trained very hard and that has created a lot of energy and healthy competition as they've all tried to earn a spot in the matchday 23. Belgium will challenge us right across the pitch, but we are well prepared.' The Canadian men have not played since a pair of November losses in Bucharest to No. 21 Romania (35-27) and No. 20 Chile (44-14). The other Free Jacks in the starting 15 are Cole Keith, Piers Von Dadelszen, Isaac Olsen and Josiah Morra. Foster Dewitt and Kyle Steeves are among the replacements. Rumball is joined by Chicago teammates Matt Oworu and Noah Flesch with Jason Higgins on the bench to start. The Edmonton tests are a warmup for the Pacific Nations Cup, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup. Canada opens Pacific Nations Cup play Aug. 25 against Japan on Aug. 25 in Vancouver before facing the U.S. on Aug 31 in Carson, Calif. The six-country tournament also features No. 9 Fiji, No. 13 Samoa and No. 19 Tonga, who will play in a separate pool. Each team will play two pool games before taking part in a final placement match. The top three teams will book their ticket to the 2027 World Cup in Australia. But given Fiji and Japan have already qualified through their performance at the last World Cup, a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it. Should Canada fail to qualify via the Pacific Nations Cup, it will still have two more chances to make the World Cup field, via a playoff with the 2025 Sudamerica Rugby Championship runner-up and, finally, a four-team repechage tournament. Canada failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, the first time it has missed the sport's showcase, after losing two-legged qualifying series to the U.S. (59-50 on aggregate) and Chile (54-46). Canada Roster Calixto Martinez, White Rock, B.C., Old Glory DC (MLR); Andrew Quattrin, Holland Landing, Ont., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Cole Keith, Sussex, N.B., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Piers Von Dadelszen, Vancouver, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Izzak Kelly, White Rock, B.C., Capilano RFC; Matt Heaton, Godmanchester, Que., RFC LA (MLR); Lucas Rumball (capt.), Toronto, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Matt Oworu, Calgary, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Brock Gallagher, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Cooper Coats, Halifax, NOLA Gold (MLR); Josiah Morra, Toronto, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Talon McMullin, White Rock, B.C., UBC; Noah Flesch, Cobourg, Ont., Chicago Hounds (MLR); Isaac Olson, Vernon, B.C., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Brenden Black, Oakville, Ont., University of Guelph. Replacements Dewald Kotze, Edmonton, Seattle Seawolves (MLR); Foster Dewitt, Courtenay, B.C., New England Free Jacks (MLR); Kyle Steeves, Winnipeg, New England Free Jacks (MLR); Callum Botchar, Vancouver, NOLA Gold (MLR); Siôn Parry, Cardiff, Wales, Ebbw Vale RFC (Wales); Jason Higgins, Cork, Ireland, Chicago Hounds (MLR); Peter Nelson, Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Dungannon RFC (Northern Ireland); Kyle Tremblay, White Rock, B.C., Pacific Pride. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch Chicago Hounds vs Old Glory: TV channel, live stream info, start time
CHICAGO - The Chicago Hounds take on Old Glory on Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium. Fans can catch all the action live and free, with every match available to stream whether you're at home or on the go! Chicago Hounds How can I watch the Chicago Hounds vs. Old Glory? TV: FOX Chicago+ Advertisement Stream: or FOX Local When: Saturday, June 14 at 6 p.m. CT Fox Chicago Plus (Channel 50) will live broadcast 14 regular-season Chicago Hounds games, providing fans with the opportunity to experience live Major League Rugby (MLR) action from the comfort of their homes. Fox Chicago Plus is a local broadcast network serving the greater Chicagoland area. In addition to airing live sports broadcasts, Fox Chicago Plus also provides local coverage of breaking news, weather updates, and in-depth stories about the city's most important happenings. You can also stream all Chicago Hounds matches via FOX Local on your connected TV, through the FOX Local Mobile app, or on the Fox 32 Chicago website. Rugby 101 Before you dive into Major League Rugby action, Chicago Hounds General Manager and CEO James English breaks down some of the key rules of the game. Advertisement Scrum: The scrum is a competitive way of resetting the game. It's usually eight per side - eight forwards from each side - that push together to see who wins the ball. Lineout: A means of restarting play after the ball falls out of the field of play (touchline). Forwards assemble in a line on each side where one team's hooker throws the ball straight in the middle. Each team uses various formations to lift players up, retrieve the ball and put it back in play. Which team's hooker throws the ball into the lineout is circumstantial. Scoring: There are three ways to score in rugby. A "try", which is the rugby version of an American football touchdown is worth five points, but the ball must be placed on the ground for points to be awarded. Afterwards, there is a conversion worth two points, similar to the extra point kick in American football. Finally, there is a phase play drop goal, or penalty worth three points. Penalties: A penalty is when any team creates an offense. Within that, a team gets to either kick for touch or go for three points. Penalties are conceded normally around the breakdown, or when offside, and also when committing foul play. Contact: Rugby is a contact sport. Players tackle safely with their shoulders, wrapping their opponent's legs to take the ball carrier to the ground. It forms a ruck, which is how the game goes through phases of possession and play.
Forbes
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
United States Of Rugby Shows The Realities Of Rugby Union In The U.S.
The new series The United States of Rugby highlights the highs and lows of life during the second ... More season of Major League franchise the Chicago Hounds. At a time when sports docuseries are a dime a dozen, The United States of Rugby stands out by focusing on the human element of a sport that is on the cusp of breaking into mainstream American consciousness. The six-episode rugby documentary series available on Roku Sports Channel follows Major League Rugby club the Chicago Hounds during their second season (2024) in the competition. Along the way, viewers meet budding stars like rookie sensation Noah Brown and veteran winger Nate Augspurger. They also see the realities of life as an athlete in an emerging sports league: filled with bumps and bruises, limited pay, and lots of travel. According to the series director, Alex Donnelly, United States of Rugby is 'for people who are looking for the next big thing, and looking to get in at the beginning.' Peter Bernick got in at the beginning despite not being a rugby man. He joined the Hounds ownership team shortly after its inception, adding much-needed investment to the franchise. In a recent interview with the Rugby Pod, Bernick admitted that he got involved with the MLR club seeking a long-term return on investment. The documentary was Bernick's brainchild. After getting into the ownership group, alongside plenty of experienced rugby veterans, Bernick said he watched all the rugby documentaries he could find (of which there aren't many) and was left dissatisfied. Seeing the potential to grow the sport and captivate a major audience, he proposed producing a series that gave viewers a look behind the curtain, a la Drive to Survive. In Bernick's words, 'The reason we decided to do the show was to highlight the culture of the sport and more importantly the people who make it such a wonderful game. As such, the show takes the audience on a journey into the Hounds' locker room and houses, tackling the highs and lows of a compelling season. What could have been an awkward experience for players quickly became the norm. Speaking to me at a press event about the series, Augspurger said that the documentary crew 'became part of the team.' They traveled alongside the players, and by the end of the season, he admits they 'didn't even notice them.' In his first season during filming, Brown was a little apprehensive about being in front of the camera at first. It was his first time with a camera crew, and he admits he was 'anxious not to say stupid things.' However, he quickly became a star of the series as he raced to four tries in his inaugural season and earned his senior test debut for the USA Eagles against Spain. Moments like Brown's rise from obscurity to international player are exactly why Alex Donnelly agreed to direct the project. Not usually one for sports stories, Donnelly saw the opportunity to capture intimate conversations and help viewers fall in love with rugby, which he calls 'an incredibly American game' due to its strategy and physicality. Rugby has a global following of over 500 million fans and estimates suggest the U.S. has about 55 million fans. However, Major League Rugby, North America's domestic competition, remains nascent. Ahead of this season (its eighth), the league signed an improved broadcast deal with ESPN, but even that will struggle to elevate MLR to the level of the NHL or MLS. According to Donnelly, what people need to fall in love with the sport are heroes. This is why he chose to hone in on captivating personal storylines, like Noah's rise to the top of a sport that is yet to be fully embraced by the American public. What he found striking about the players he filmed was the conviction they have for the sport they love despite some of the conditions they continue to play in. They pour blood, sweat, and tears into a game that 'hasn't quite clicked yet' for most Americans but remains their dream. Both Augspurger and Brown said they hoped this series showed the special connections rugby players have and their commitment to the sport regardless of how much they get paid. Augspurger specifically noted that as more people in the country are exposed to the game, rugby will continue to get better, it will continue to professionalize and it will be a worthwhile endeavor for those who want to give it a try. The two biggest things holding the sport back right now are infrastructure and victories, or lack thereof. As Donnelly notes, 'We have an opportunity to send this sport to a stratospheric level, but we have to build the infrastructure.' While the Hounds play at SeatGeak Stadium, a 20,000-seater, most MLR stadiums are either not rugby-specific or lack the necessary capacity and amenities to be considered top-tier. The matchday experience, while fun for the average rugby fan, does not yet meet the expectations of the average American sports goer. Moreover, the USA Men's national team is ranked 15 in the world, with the women are slightly higher at 9. To push attendance higher and garner more interest MLR needs to deliver an amazing product and Americans need to win. As Brown said, 'Americans love winners, if you ain't first, you're last.' The Chicago Hounds play in green and white to connect with the Irish heritage of the city. The club ... More is off to a strong start in the 2025 season with 4 wins from 5 games. The Hounds are beginning to win. After a strong second season —captured by the series — the Hounds have begun this season winning four of their first five games. They are tied for third place in the standings and serious about contending for the title this season. As Augspurger said, 'The standard is to have a shot at a championship,' noting that on a personal level, he would also like to make the USA Eagles summer tour which includes a men's and women's doubleheader in Washington, D.C. against England and Fiji. Rugby remains a sleeping giant with huge potential and fantastic passion. It has many organizational flaws but if they can be corrected the sport could be catapulted to a new level. As Hounds owner Patrick Bernick says, 'The future for rugby in America is very bright. As evidenced by the awarding to the USA of the 2031 and 2033 Men's and Women's World Cups, the game at its highest levels is on the way to American shores. Just as importantly, the game is rapidly growing at the youth level and is the fastest growing team sport in America. We are excited to be a part of that growth.' Fans who tune into the United States of Rugby will see injuries, bruising tackles, comradery, player development, games with half-empty stands, and players who are desperate to ensure that they can play the sport they love for as long as possible. The series excellently explains a sport that is 'largely misunderstood in America' according to Bernick, but is poised to join the big leagues of American sports.
Telegraph
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Chicago Hounds fly-half rated second-best player in world by Rugby 25
The launch of the latest Rugby 25 video game has been mocked following some unusual player ratings, with a Sale Sharks hooker who has never played Test rugby and a journeyman fly-half playing for Chicago Hounds rated as the second-best players in the world behind Antoine Dupont. Sale's Tadgh McElroy has been given a 90 rating, one point behind the best player in the game in Dupont and above the likes of Damian Penaud, Jordie Barrett and Caleb Clarke. Sale poked fun at the rating on Instagram with a post captioned: 'If you know, you know. Watch out Dupont.' McElroy responded to the club over WhatsApp by saying: 'It's quite funny to be honest. I've been sent this loads of times now. Getting a bit of stick from the lads but I'll accept the rating for sure.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sale Sharks (@salesharks) McElroy was joined as a surprise 90-rated player by Anthony Watson, the former Leicester and England wing who announced his retirement last month. The other 90-rated player is fly-half Tim Swiel, 31, who in a well-travelled career has played for (pause for breath) Western Province, Sharks, Harlequins, Newcastle, Stormers, Toyota Shokki, Edinburgh, Saracens and now Chicago Hounds. The game, made by Big Ant Studios based in Australia, released an important patch update on Friday, a day after the game's launch. 'We've found some issues with the ratings related to save files (particularly for those people on PC that were part of the Early Access). These will be rectified in a downloadable update,' Ross Symons, Big Ant Studios' founder and CEO, wrote on X. We've found some issues with the ratings related to save files (particularly for those people on PC that were part of the Early Access). These will be rectified in a downloadable update. — Ross (@RossSymons) February 14, 2025 While the visuals for the new release received praise, there was notable criticism around gameplay, with one post on the Big Ant Studios forum titled 'Refund advice please'. The game features international teams and more than 150 clubs from 11 competitions, including the Gallagher Premiership, United Rugby Championship and Top 14. Early indications suggest that Rugby 25 will not threaten the two greatest rugby video games released to date, 1997's Jonah Lomu Rugby and Rugby 08, the final rugby game released by EA Sports in 2008.
