The Chicago Hounds have announced an immediate change at Head Coach. Sam Harris has departed with Forwards Coach Rob Webber filling the senior role in an initially interim capacity. The timing is unusual with only three weeks remaining in Major League Rugby’s regular season.
Harris made the move from Austin to Chicago ahead of the inaugural 2023 campaign. With little time to put a roster together the first season proved challenging with a 3-13 record. A busy off-season brought high expectations for 2024 but the team started slowly with just one win and a draw in their first five games, including back-to-back defeats at home.
Some of the team’s initial shortcomings were attributed to the controversial decision to play star center Billy Meakes out of position at flyhalf for the first four games of the season. The team then rebounded with four consecutive wins, including a notable road result over the defending champion Free Jacks. They have since dropped four in a row and are battling to hold 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference.
Webber had a distinguished 15-year career in the English Premiership as a player. He won 16 caps for England as a hooker starting in 2012 and culminating with selection to the 2015 World Cup. The 37-year-old was appointed Head Coach of Jersey Reds in the English Championship after retiring in 2020 and held the job until the club’s demise in 2023.
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