MLR 2024: Chicago Hounds vs San Diego Legion

It’s a first ever Monday night fixture for Major League Rugby as Chicago hosts San Diego at SeatGeek Stadium. The Hounds take the field having dramatically dismissed their Head Coach after a four-game slide, while the Legion are looking to extend their three-game winning streak.

CURRENT STANDINGS

5-7-1 (L4) East 3rd

9-4-0 (W3) West 3rd

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

7 Lucas Rumball replaces Maclean Jones
8 Luke White replaces Conall Boomer
10 Luke Carty replaces Adriaan Carelse
11 Julián Domínguez replaces Nate Augspurger
15 Dave Kearney replaces Kian Meadon

1 Djustice Sears-Duru replaces Nathan Sylvia
3 Luke Green replaces Darcy Breen
5 Brandon Harvey replaces Greg Peterson
7 Blair Cowan replaces Paddy Ryan
8 Tevita Tameilau replaces Vili Helu (No6 vs Anthem)
9 Connor Tupai replaces Danny Christensen
10 Matt Giteau replaces Lincoln McClutchie
11 Ryan James replaces James Vaifale
12 Ma’a Nonu replaces Ethan Grayson
15 Marcel Brache replaces Mikey Te’o

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(12) – Fawsitt, Ryan, White, McCarthy, Carty, Campbell (USA), Flesch, Rumball, Higgins (Canada), Kearney (Ireland), Pujadas, Péculo (Uruguay)

(11) – Sears-Duru (Canada), Ross, Nonu (New Zealand), Cowan (Scotland), Tameilau, James, Brache, Helu, Ryan, Boyer (USA), Giteau (Australia)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Zura Zhvania (LH), Ben Landry (LO/FL), Nate Augspurger (WI)

– Faka’aosi Pifeleti (LH), Greg Peterson (LO), Christian Poidevin (FL), Mikey Te’o (WI/FB)

NOTES

it’s the first match as Head Coach of the Hounds for Rob Webber, who takes the role in an initially interim capacity after the axing of Sam Harris last week… Webber is a former England hooker who notably coached Jersey Reds to an RFU Championship title in 2023… when the club folded in the fall he joined Chicago as Forwards Coach
there is an immediate change at flyhalf with Luke Carty wearing the No10 shirt for the first time this season… the USA international takes over from Adriaan Carelse who has been benched for the first time this year after coming up short against Dallas
Lucas Rumball and Luke White add international experience to the back row… it’s the first start for Canada captain Rumball since Week 6 in early April
after resting many of his top players against Anthem, Danny Lee has restored his Legion roster to a nearly full strength lineup… Hugh Roach notably lines up against his former team
Brandon Harvey gets his first MLR start in the absence of Greg Peterson… Harvey was in the USA u20 squad in 2022 and made his Legion debut off the bench against Anthem
Tiaan Loots makes his fourth consecutive start in San Diego’s midfield… it’s his longest stretch in the run-on side since he was a regular starter during the 2022 campaign

PREDICTION

Expectations were high this year for both teams but it’s been a mixed bag to date. The Legion’s record is slightly flattering though they are starting to hit their stride at the business end of the regular season. Chicago are out of sorts but might conjure some urgency and determination after seeing their coach take the fall for their underwhelming performances. San Diego are favorites on the road.

LINEUPS

CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Charlie Abel, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 George Merrick, 5 James Scott, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Luke White, 9 Nick McCarthy, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Dave Kearney

Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Brad Tucker, 20 Maclean Jones, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Mark O’Keeffe, 23 Adriaan Carelse

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Luke Green, 4 Isaac Ross, 5 Brandon Harvey, 6 Tupou Afungia, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Connor Tupai, 10 Matt Giteau, 11 Ryan James, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Filimoni Waqainabete, 15 Marcel Brache

Replacements: 16 Chris Mickelson, 17 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Vili Helu, 20 Paddy Ryan, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Harris Rutherford, 23 James Vaifale

MATCH INFO

Date: Monday, June 17
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 90°F (32°C), wind S 16-24mph (26-38km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network