By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
There is a school of thought that the expansion Chicago Hounds could win the Major League Rugby championship in their inaugural season.
Their first game, however, was a case of attending the school of hard knocks.
The Hounds debut resulted a 42-27 setback to Old Glory DC at Serga Field in Leesburg, Virginia on Feb. 18.
Tehy allowed a goal before one minute had been completed, and addition to losing the game lost Luke Carty — who accounted for 10 points — with a possible groin injury. Carty left the game and did not return.
George Thornton, Charlie Abel and Luke White each scored a try for the Hounds (0-1-0), who make their SeatGeek Stadium home debut against Utah at 1 p.m. March 5.
With 15 more matches to go, the Hounds have time to figure out their defense and get it right. And if they do, they could do some damage.
The Rugby Network’s Alexander Diegel wrote that the talent the Hounds acquired in the dispersal draft could help make them a force. The contraction of Los Angeles and Austin put players from those teams into a talent pool, and having players including Carty, Abel, Billy Meakes, Bryce Campbell, Mark O’Keefe, Mason Koch and Lindsay Stevens could accelerate the winning process.
Coach Sam Harris is no rookie to winning. He was 21-11 over the last two seasons in Austin.
“We’ve got enough talent and experience in big games and guys who have won the MLR title before,” Harris told The Rugby Network. “Continuity is something I believe in, so we’ll have to make sure we have the right people on the field and are building the right combinations within the group.”
Campbell was named captain before the season and Luke Beauchamp was named vice captain.
Campbell is an Indianapolis native who served as a captain for Harris in 2021 and 2022. He calls it a “massive honor” to serve as captain for the Hounds.
Beauchamp was a co-captain with Houston in 2021.
THE HOUNDS AT HOME
A look at the home schedule for the Chicago Hounds. All home games will be played at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
March 5 – Utah, 1 p.m.
March 11 – Toronto, 7 p.m.
March 18 – Dallas, 6 p.m.
March 26 – Seattle, 3 p.m.
April 2 – Houston, 1 p.m.
April 23 – New Orleans, 1 p.m.
May 14 – New York, 1 p.m.
June 3 – San Diego, 6 p.m.