MLR 2025: Chicago Hounds vs NOLA Gold

Friday night’s results have changed the complexion of Saturday evening’s game in Chicago. While the Hounds are still contending for top spot in the East, all playoff hopes have now evaporated for the Gold. NOLA have been left deflated by Miami’s victory and now have only pride to play, their 5th-place ranking in the conference assured in what has been a very disappointing campaign.

CURRENT STANDINGS

9-5-0 (W1) East 2nd

4-10-0 (L4) East 5th

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

	IN	OUT
6	Mason Flesch	Tavius Sykora-Matthess
12	Ollie Devoto	Noah Flesch

	IN	OUT
1	Bart Vermeulen	Matt Harmon
7	Aidan King	Moni Tonga’uiha
9	Ruben de Haas	Luke Campbell
11	Julian Roberts	Harley Wheeler
12	Reece Botha	Nikolai Foliaki
13	JP du Plessis	Isaac Te Tamaki

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(14) – Pifeleti, Fawsitt, Campbell, Brown, White, Baska (USA), M Flesch, Rumball, Higgins, Oworu, N Flesch (Canada), Hilsenbeck (Germany), Devoto (England), Péculo (Uruguay)

(12) – Mullen, Dolan, de Haas, Carty, Harmon, Tonga’uiha (USA), Mau’u, Fidow (Samoa), Coats, Matchem (Canada), Afungia (Tonga), Stevens (Namibia)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Zura Zhvania (LH), Mark O’Keeffe (CE/WI), Julián Domínguez (WI)

– Joe Taufete’e (HO), Kélian Galletier (FL/N8), Xavier Mignot (WI)

PREDICTION

There’s not much to say for the Gold at this point. Things haven’t gone their way and some might now be playing for contracts or international positions, but the team goals are out the window. Some of their best players haven’t made the trip to the windy city, while their hosts field a near full-strength lineup. The Hounds were winners on the road earlier this year and should finally break the tradition with a first-ever home win in matches between the two sides. Chicago are clear favorites at home.

LINEUPS

CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 James Scott, 5 Hamish Bain, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Tim Swiel

Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Liam Fletcher, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Luke White, 20 Matthew Oworu, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Adriaan Carelse, 23 Noah Flesch

NOLA GOLD
1 Bart Vermeulen, 2 Ale Lopeti, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Chase Jones, 5 Jay Tuivaiti, 6 Cam Dolan, 7 Aidan King, 8 Jonah Mau’u (capt.), 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julian Roberts, 12 Reece Botha, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Ed Fidow, 15 Cooper Coats

Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Tyler Matchem, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Tupou Afungia, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Moni Tonga’uiha, 23 Vilimoni Koroi

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, May 31
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 59°F (15°C), wind NE 7-11mph (11-18km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fox Chicago+, Gulf Coast Sports, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network