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After a perfect regular season campaign, the Hounds host Old Glory for Major League Rugby’s first ever Monday-night playoff match. The right to contest the Shield is up for grabs, and while Chicago’s intimidating record might suggest this is a fait accompli, their last meeting just two weeks ago was decided by a single point.
| FORM GUIDE |
1st, 10-0-0, Won 10
06/07 – Free Jacks 19 vs 35 Hounds (Quincy)
05/30 – Old Glory 32 vs 33 Hounds (Fairfax)
05/24 – Hounds 57 vs 17 Seawolves (Bridgeview)
05/16 – Legion 26 vs 36 Hounds (Moraga)
05/10 – Hounds 61 vs 26 Anthem (Bridgeview)
05/03 – Hounds 49 vs 31 Old Glory (Bridgeview)
04/24 – Seawolves 22 vs 59 Hounds (Tukwila)
04/19 – Hounds 50 vs 26 Free Jacks (Nashville)
04/12 – Hounds 48 vs 24 Legion (Bridgeview)
04/04 – Anthem 19 vs 33 Hounds (Charlotte)
4th, 4-6-0, Won 1
06/06 – Old Glory 29 vs 21 Anthem (Fairfax)
05/30 – Old Glory 32 vs 33 Hounds (Fairfax)
05/24 – Legion 42 vs 10 Old Glory (Sacramento)
05/17 – Old Glory 24 vs 23 Free Jacks (Fairfax)
05/10 – Old Glory 25 vs 30 Seawolves (Fairfax)
05/03 – Hounds 49 vs 31 Old Glory (Bridgeview)
04/26 – Old Glory 23 vs 36 Legion (Fairfax)
04/18 – Anthem 14 vs 31 Old Glory (Charlotte)
04/11 – Free Jacks 19 vs 21 Old Glory (Quincy)
04/03 – Seawolves 33 vs 16 Old Glory (Tukwila)
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Theo Fourie | Tomás Bekerman |
| 3 | Charlie Abel | Wilton Rebolo |
| 5 | Nathan Den Hoedt | Brandon Harvey |
| 7 | Lucas Rumball | Maclean Jones |
| 9 | Ruben de Haas | Michael Baska |
| 10 | Chris Hilsenbeck | Reece Botha |
| 11 | Peyton Wall | Jason Tidwell |
| 12 | Ollie Devoto | Santiago Videla |
| 13 | Tavite Lopeti | Tiaan Loots |
|
IN | OUT |
| 10 | Jason Emery | Jason Robertson |
| NOTES |
- Injured / unavailable – (Hounds) Malcolm May, Maclean Jones, Matthew Oworu; (Old Glory) Jay Renton, Jason Robertson
- the Hounds have been hit with the loss of flanker Mac Jones to injury… with Canadian international Matt Oworu also sidelined, Jake Kinneeveauk stays in the No8 shirt for what will be just his third starting opportunity as a professional
- several starters were rested in the final regular season match against New England, but all of the main characters – save Jones and Oworu – are back for the Hounds on Monday
- Old Glory’s lineup has deviated little throughout the campaign… but they have one key omission… goal-kicker and playmaker Jason Robertson is unavailable for the birth of his first child
- with Robertson out, Jason Emery steps in at flyhalf… the versatile New Zealander wore No12 for New York when they lifted the title in 2022… Emery has just two starts this season, both in the midfield, and hasn’t suited up at all since May 3
| PREDICTION |
Sunny and warm conditions are expected at kickoff, which should allow for an entertaining spectacle. Can DC replicate their effort in Fairfax? This time they’re on the road, and face a well-rested Hounds lineup. While the loss of Jones is unfortunate, Robertson is certainly the most significant absentee. It would have been a tall order for Old Glory even with their star man in the lineup. Expect the Hounds to show their quality on Monday night. Chicago are clear favorites at home in Bridgeview.
| TEAMS |
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Theo Fourie, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Jake Kinneeveauk, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Brock Webster
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Wilton Rebolo, 19 Brandon Harvey, 20 Emmanuel Albert, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Santiago Videla
OLD GLORY DC
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Rob Harley (capt.), 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Cory Daniel, 7 Aidan King, 8 Benjamín Bonasso, 9 John LeFevre, 10 Jason Emery, 11 John Rizzo, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 Ross Depperschmidt, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 Connor Robinson, 17 Bart Vermeulen, 18 Connor Devos, 19 Rick Rose, 20 Collin Grosse, 21 Aidan Ridgway, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 John Powers
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Monday, June 15
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 18:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 73°F (23°C), wind W 11-16 mph (18-26 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN U / ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports (International)
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Mike Lawrenson (USA)
TMO: n/a
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (7) – Hounds 4, Old Glory 2, Draw 1
2026-05-30 – Old Glory DC 32, Chicago Hounds 33 (George Mason Stadium)
2026-05-03 – Chicago Hounds 49, Old Glory DC 31 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2025-06-14 – Chicago Hounds 27, Old Glory 16 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2025-03-15 – Chicago Hounds 30, Old Glory DC 26 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-05-11 – Chicago Hounds 21, Old Glory DC 22 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-03-16 – Old Glory DC 22, Chicago Hounds 22 (Maryland SoccerPlex)
2023-02-18 – Old Glory DC 42, Chicago Hounds 27 (Segra Field)
