Chicago City Wire

CHICAGO, IL - The Chicago Hounds have announced the inclusion of two academy players into their senior Major League Rugby squad for the 2025 season. The team has reached agreements with prop Koby Baker and lock Tavius Sykora-Matthess.

Koby Baker joined the Hounds Academy this fall and started three games in his tighthead position. His performance earned him a second MLR contract. Earlier in 2024, Baker played with the American Raptors before signing his first MLR contract with the Seattle Seawolves on June 13, alongside Jackson Zabierek. Despite joining Seattle late in the season, he participated in five matches, including the championship game against New England Free Jacks.

Baker hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, where he began playing rugby in 2015 at Sanderson High School. He was selected for the High School All-American 7s team in 2019 and later attended Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales. After graduating, he moved to Australia and helped Port Macquarie Pirates win a championship before returning to America to join the Raptors.

Tavius Sykora-Matthess is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was active in football and wrestling at Washington High School before transferring from Missouri Southern State University to Iowa Central Community College to pursue rugby. His career at ICCC included an All-American season in 2022 and selection for the United States Under-23 team on a tour against Belgium, Canada, and Czech Republic.

Sykora-Matthess continued his development with appearances for the Falcons against Argentina and Uruguay XV. After joining American Raptors in 2022, he signed for their Super Rugby Americas campaign in 2023 but now returns to Midwest roots after two seasons in Colorado.

The Hounds have now promoted four academy players to their senior team this season; Sam Walsh and Will Vakalahi were called up earlier this winter.