The Chicago Hounds finished their 2025 season at the top of the pack. Winning eleven games, losing five, and drawing zero, the Hounds boast an incredible Major League Rugby (MLR) regular season record and 53 league points that resulted in a 4th place finish in the eleven-team league. While they finished 4th due to league points earned by scoring and preventing other teams from scoring each game, the Hounds actually tied with the Utah Warriors and New England Free Jacks for the most wins in the league! This feat is especially impressive given that the Hounds only joined the MLR in 2023. The team’s exponential improvement and growth coinciding with the growth of the sport in America was discussed in the documentary on the team filmed at Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium this past year and released on Roku. After winning their final regular season home game against the Houston SaberCats with their largest crowd attendance ever, the Chicago Hounds earned the privilege to host a Major League Rugby (MLR) Eastern Conference Semifinal at SeatGeek Stadium on June 14th!
After a frightening first half of their make-or-break semifinal where the Hounds were losing 10-16, they rallied to put up an impenetrable offense against Old Glory DC. With superb timing and skill, they managed to win the semifinals with a score of 27-16. The Hounds then traveled to face their greatest challenge yet—the Eastern Conference Final match against the New England Free Jacks. The Free Jacks won the MLR Championship in both 2023 and 2024 and previously defeated the Houndson their way to victory. The Chicago Hounds put up a great early game in the momentous 2025 Eastern Finals rematch on Saturday, June 21st at the Free Jacks’ stadium, leading 17-0. The Free Jacks shockingly fought back with the ferocity of a cornered animal, eventually surpassing and defeating the Hounds with a final score of 20-21. The razor thin margin highlights the exciting game and the competitive nature of the top MLR teams, and the Village of Bridgeview commends the Chicago Hounds on their overall fantastic season at SeatGeek Stadium.