Two teams bound for the postseason will begin the final week of the Major League Rugby regular season with a mid-week clash at SeatGeek Stadium. This is the finale for the Hounds, who are one point away from guaranteeing home-field advantage in an Eastern Conference Semi Final. Houston have two games left but a bonus point win at Chicago would make them odds-on favorites to top the Western Conference with Anthem their opponent on Sunday.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
10-5-0 (W2) East 2nd
9-5-0 (L1) West 3rd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Zura Zhvania | Faka’osi Pifeleti |
| 2 | Jackson Zabierek | Dylan Fawsitt |
| 3 | Paddy Ryan | Charlie Abel |
| 7 | Conall Boomer | Maclean Jones |
| 8 | Matthew Oworu | Lucas Rumball |
| 9 | Mitch Short | Jason Higgins |
| 10 | Adriaan Carelse | Christopher Hilsenbeck |
| 11 | Julián Domínguez | Peyton Wall |
| 14 | Mark O’Keeffe | Noah Brown |
| 15 | Ben Pollack | Tim Swiel |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Valdemar Lee-Lo | LaRome White |
| 6 | Emmanuel Albert | Keni Nasoqeqe |
| 8 | Marno Redelinghuys | Tinashe Muchena |
| 12 | Dom Akina | Sam Hill |
| 15 | Max Schumacher | Drew Wild |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(14) – Zhvania (Georgia), Ryan, Campbell, O’Keeffe, Fawsitt, White, Baska (USA), M Flesch, Oworu, Rumball, N Flesch (Canada), Devoto (England), Péculo (Uruguay), Hilsenbeck (Germany)
(4) – Davis (USA), Alatimu (Samoa), McLean (Scotland), Rebolo (Brazil)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Charlie Abel (TH), Maclean Jones (FL), Nate Augspurger (WI)
– Ezekiel Lindenmuth (LH), Davy Coetzer (FH), Drew Wild (FB)
| PREDICTION |
Damp conditions are expected but with both sides happy to play through their forwards it shouldn’t have a dramatic effect on the outcome. Selections, however, will certainly play a part. While Pote Human has picked his strongest available side, Chris Latham has opted for rotation at a number of positions. It’s by no means a weak Hounds lineup but it’s not the one that will be taking the field in the knockouts. That decision tips the scales towards the visitors. Houston are slight favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Zura Zhvania, 2 Jackson Zabierek, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 James Scott, 5 Hamish Bain, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Conall Boomer, 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Mitch Short, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Ben Pollack
Replacements: 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 Liam Fletcher, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Luke White, 20 Lucas Rumball, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 23 Noah Flesch
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Pono Davis, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Emmanuel Albert, 7 Johan Momsen, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 9 Jay Renton, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Juan-Dee Oliver, 12 Dom Akina, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Max Schumacher
Replacements: 16 Wilton Rebolo, 17 LaRome White, 18 Michael Scott, 19 Keni Nasoqeqe, 20 Tinashe Muchena, 21 André Warner, 22 Louritz van der Schyff, 23 Drake Davis
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Wednesday, June 4
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: light rain, 61°F (16°C), wind NE 8-12mph (13-19km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, CW39 Houston, Fox Chicago+, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Chris O’Malley (USA) & Marty Steffens (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (4) – Houston 3, Chicago 1
2025-02-15 – Houston SaberCats 22, Chicago Hounds 25 (SaberCats Stadium)
2024-05-18 – Houston SaberCats 23, Chicago Hounds 22 (SaberCats Stadium)
2023-05-27 – Houston SaberCats 40, Chicago Hounds 33 (SaberCats Stadium)
2023-04-01 – Chicago Hounds 21, Houston SaberCats 38 (SeatGeek Stadium)
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