Chicago City Wire

On Monday afternoon, the Chicago Hounds released their player pool for the 2024 senior academy season, set to take place this fall.

“We are very excited to enter into the second year of our Senior Academy program with this exciting group of prospects,” said Hounds’ Director of Rugby Operations Will Magie.

The group, led by Head Coach Matt Wagner, enjoyed a successful inaugural campaign last fall. The team registered wins over the Houston Sabercats’ and Toronto Arrows’ academy sides, with a narrow loss to the San Diego Legion academy.

The 2024 Academy Schedule is set to be released in the coming weeks, with matches beginning at the conclusion of the fall club rugby season.

The player pool consists of 47 athletes representing 15 teams, including nine men’s clubs and six collegiate programs across the Midwest.

“This player pool is comprised of coach nominations, collegiate and senior club scouting, players who stood out at our open combine, as well as contracted Hounds MLR players who need more opportunities to develop,” continued Magie.

Notably, the player pool features the Hounds’ three 2024 collegiate draft picks: center Peyton Wall, flanker Jake Kinneeveauk, and prop Alex Hernandez. The group also includes six athletes contracted by the Hounds during this previous 2024 Major League Rugby season: prop Alu Taito, lock Sam Peri, scrumhalf Sidney Shoop, center Cassh Maluia, wing Michael Hand II, and fullback Willis Goodwin. These players will provide senior leadership for this young player pool throughout the fall.

Ten athletes in the player pool made at least one appearance for the senior academy team during the 2023 season: prop Michael Alamo; flankers Zach Marsh and Jake Reed; flyhalves Carmen Consolino and Luca Milne; wing Tom Nevara; and previously mentioned Peri, Shoop, Maluia, and Goodwin.

Goodwin parlayed an impressive 2023 academy season into a full senior contract with the Hounds. The local star made his MLR debut in the Hounds’ week 11 matchup against Old Glory DC.

Highlighting their commitment to creating a sustainable pathway for young American rugby prospects, this player pool is entirely composed of athletes with domestic qualifying status and has an average age of just 23 years old.

* Denotes players that made an appearance for the senior academy during the 2023 season