Hounds Add Promising Local Talent to Roster

CHICAGO, IL- As the 2024 Major League Rugby season rolls on, the Chicago Hounds continue to add pieces to their clubhouse. Chicago’s professional rugby franchise announced today they signed outside back Willis Goodwin for the remainder of the season.

The Arlington Heights native joins the senior team after a standout season with the Hounds Academy squad this past fall. Goodwin appeared, and started, in one contest for the academy, a win over the Houston Sabercats’ Academy on November 19th.

Prior to his time in the Hounds’ camp, Goodwin spent the 2023 season with the New England Free Jacks, but the 24-year-old did not appear in any matches. In the fall of 2022, Goodwin toured Uruguay with the USA-Selects team.

The outside back was a two-sport athlete at John Carroll University, running track in addition to playing rugby. As a member of the track and field team, Goodwin earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors in the Triple Jump, Long Jump, and 200 meter relay. His personal records include: a 11.45 second 100-meter time, a 24.25 second 200 meter time, a 6.8 meter long jump personal best, and a 13.4 meter triple jump personal best.

Before John Carroll University, Goodwin was also an impressive football player. During his time at Rolling Meadows High School, the speedster earned All-Mid Suburban League and All-Area honors. He began playing rugby in middle school with the Arlington Stallions Rugby club, who he played for until graduating high school.

Goodwin will look to contribute to an outside back positional group that is littered with a bevy of talent, including Nate Augspurger, Noah Brown, and Julian Dominguez, among others.