Can anyone stop the Hounds? That’s the question fans will be asking ahead of Chicago’s visit to California on Saturday. Though the two sides are ranked 1-2 on the overall standings, the Legion were decidedly second-best when they clashed in Bridgeview last month. They’re also returning home from a disappointing road loss to a rebuilding New England side.
2nd, 3-3-0, Lost 1
05/09 – Free Jacks 26 vs 21 Legion (Quincy)
04/26 – Old Glory 23 vs 36 Legion (Fairfax)
04/19 – Legion 38 vs 31 Seawolves (Los Angeles)
04/12 – Hounds 48 vs 24 Legion (Bridgeview)
04/04 – Legion 43 vs 5 Free Jacks (San Diego)
03/28 – Legion 26 vs 39 Anthem (Irvine)
1st, 6-0-0, Won 6
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)
 |
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Michael Scott | Declan Leaney |
| 2 | Ben Sugars | Joe Taufete’e |
| 4 | Jurie van Vuuren | Keni Nasoqeqe |
| 8 | Ronan Murphy | Ben Houston |
| 11 | Joe Mano | Ryan James |
| 15 | Steffan Crimp | Rory van Vugt |
|
IN | OUT |
| 3 | Charlie Abel | Wilton Rebolo |
| 6 | Mason Flesch | Brandon Harvey |
| 8 | Lucas Rumball | Matthew Oworu |
| 10 | Chris Hilsenbeck | Reece Botha |
| 12 | Ollie Devoto | Santiago Videla |
- Injured / unavailable – (Legion) Christian Poidevin, Oscar Treacy, Ryan James; (Hounds) Malcolm May, Matthew Oworu
- Saturday’s match see a new venue hosting Major League Rugby… Saint Mary’s Stadium in Moraga is home of the traditional college powerhouse SMC Gaels
- former Gaels teammates Ronan Murphy and Tavite Lopeti will be on opposite sides of the pitch… but curiously there is no sign of Chase Jones… the former Saint Mary’s lock was a late withdrawal from last week’s match but according to the league website took full part in training this week
- it’s the first start of the season for Murphy… who last week returned from a three-game suspension… also a first start in California colors for hooker Ben Sugars
- the Legion have named six forwards on their bench and three of them are primarily hookers… though both Cyrille Cama and Ale Lopeti have previous appearances at flanker in MLR… Lopeti could find himself lined up across from older brother Tavite
- California will soon welcome Eagles lock or blindside flanker Vili Helu to the squad… the ex-San Diego star wrapped up his season with Kurita Water Gush in Japan last weekend
- Michael Scott runs out at loosehead prop for the first time as a professional… all of the previous appearances for the Scotsman in Super Rugby or MLR have been at tighthead
- Chicago have a nearly fully-fit squad to choose from though Canadian No8 Matthew Oworu is out this week… flanker Malcolm May will miss the entire season with a knee injury
- former Eagles prop Jake Turnbull makes just his second appearance for the Hounds and first since starting the season opener against Anthem in early April
Perfect conditions will be welcome news for the Legion, but they’ll need more than sunshine to stop the league’s top team. The Hounds are head-and-shoulders above the rest at this stage, and feature the form attacking player in MLR at the moment in fullback Brock Webster. With team leaders Flesch, Rumball, and Devoto back after a week’s rest, the scales are firmly tipped towards the visitors. Chicago are clear favorites on the road in Moraga.
CALIFORNIA LEGION
1 Michael Scott, 2 Ben Sugars, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Lance Williams, 7 Ed Timpson, 8 Ronan Murphy, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Coby Miln, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Cassh Maluia, 14 Corbin Smith, 15 Steffan Crimp
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Justus Tavai, 19 Keni Nasoqeqe, 20 Cyrille Cama, 21 Ale Lopeti, 22 Tas Smith, 23 Cole Semu
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Theo Fourie, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Brock Webster
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Koby Baker, 19 Brandon Harvey, 20 Emmanuel Albert, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Santiago Videla
Date: Saturday, May 16
Venue: Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga
Kickoff: 13:00 local (15:00 Central, 16:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 72°F (22°C), wind W 9-14 mph (15-22 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports (International), Fox Chicago Plus (Local)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USA) & Shanda Assmus (Canada)
TMO: n/a
HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – Hounds 1, Legion 0
2026-04-12 – Chicago Hounds 48, California Legion 24 (SeatGeek Stadium)