Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
A clash to determine supremacy in the Eastern Conference – and potential home field advantage through the postseason – takes place at Fort Quincy on Saturday afternoon. The New England Free Jacks are the league’s hottest team and look to be back in championship form, while the Chicago Hounds need to find their swagger again after experiencing something of a mid-season slump.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
8-3-0 (W6) East 1st
8-3-0 (W1) East 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 8 | Jerónimo Gómez Vara | Wian Conradie |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Mason Flesch | Hamish Bain |
| 8 | Luke White | Lucas Rumball |
| 11 | Peyton Wall | Mark O’Keeffe |
| 15 | Tim Swiel | Michael Hand |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(9) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, LeSage, Webster, DeWitt, Larsen, Fryer (Canada), Malan (Namibia), Geiger (USA)
(13) – Pifeleti, Fawsitt, White, Campbell, Brown, O’Keeffe (USA), Flesch, Oworu, Higgins (Canada), Hilsenbeck (Germany), Devoto (England), Zhvania (Georgia), Péculo (Uruguay)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Wian Conradie (N8), Oscar Lennon (SH), Jayson Potroz (FH)
– Hamish Bain (LO), Lucas Rumball (FL/N8), Julián Domínguez (WI)
| PREDICTION |
The weather should have a significant impact though it will be somewhat gusty. Chicago got a much-needed win at home against Miami but didn’t look convincing and lost captain Lucas Rumball to an ankle injury. They also field a makeshift back three that includes a first-time starter in Peyton Wall and an out-of-position Tim Swiel at fullback. The Free Jacks meanwhile field a nearly unchanged team after the impressive result against Houston, and welcome back front row duo Foster DeWitt and Kyle Ciquera from injury. This could be a tough day for the Hounds. New England are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Jone Koroiduadua, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Sam Caird, 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 9 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Jack Reeves, 15 Brock Webster
Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Kyle Ciquera, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Emanuel Lai, 22 Wayne van der Bank, 23 Simon-Peter Toleafoa
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 James Scott, 5 Mason Flesch, 6 Conall Boomer, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White, 9 Mitch Short, 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Noah Brown, 15 Tim Swiel
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Zura Zhvania, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Tavius Sykora-Matthess, 20 Matthew Oworu, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Adriaan Carelse, 23 Mark O’Keeffe
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, May 10
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 16:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 15:00 Central)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 59°F (15°C), wind NW 12-28mph (19-45km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fox 13+ Chicago, NBC Sports Boston, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (5) – New England 3, Chicago 2
2025-03-02 – Chicago Hounds 36, New England Free Jacks 7 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-07-27 – New England Free Jacks 23, Chicago Hounds 17 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2024-05-05 – New England Free Jacks 20, Chicago Hounds 26 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2024-03-24 – Chicago Hounds 17, New England Free Jacks 22 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2023-04-08 – New England Free Jacks 31, Chicago Hounds 19 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
