Hounds Sign Free Agent Flanker Lucas Rumball

CHICAGO, IL- The Chicago Hounds announced today they agreed to terms with free agent flanker Lucas Rumball. The capped Canadian-international spent the first five seasons of his Major League Rugby career with the Toronto Arrows.

The 28-year-old flanker started 15 games for the Arrows in 2023, making 14 starts and playing a total of 1,113 minutes. Rumball finished the season with 176 tackles on 191 attempts and five breakdown steals. He scored two tries and carried the ball 85 times for 391 meters gained.

Over the course of his career, Rumball earned 54 caps (51 starts) and played over 4,000 minutes. The flanker has been one of the best breakdown merchants in the league the last five years and is credited with 46 breakdown steals. He’s completed 770 of his 832 tackle attempts, including 21 dominant tackles. On offense, Rumball has 379 carries and gained 1,716 meters (4.5 meters-per-carry), and scored five tries.

Rumball earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2021 after a dominant season. The 6’2″, 231-pound flanker finished the season with 19 breakdown steals and 228 tackles, both career highs. Rumball started all 13 of his appearances and logged over 1,000 minutes. He’s credited with 394 meters gained on 101 carries that season and beat eight defenders.

In addition to his Major League Rugby accolades, Rumball is the captain of the Canadian National team. With over 40 caps, he is one of the most accomplished players in the squad. The flanker scored three tries in their most recent contest, a 40-15 win over Brazil.

Rumball’s signing adds yet another impact forward to the Hounds’ 2024 squad. Most recently, the club added a pair of forwards through the MLR Dispersal Draft in Brad Tucker and Mason Flesch. The Hounds also signed Ben Landry this offseason and announced the contract extensions of Tinashe Muchena, Justice Nkombua, and Mike Matarazzo.

Roster to Date:

To date, the Chicago Hounds have signed the following players for the 2024 Major League Rugby season:

• Nick McCarthy, scrumhalf
• Ben Landry, lock/flanker
• Dave Kearney, wing
• Bryce Campbell, center*
• Zurabi Zhvania, prop
• Billy Meakes, center*
• Julian Dominguez, wing*
• George Merrick, lock
• Tinashe Muchena, back row*
• Adriaan Carelse, fullback
• Mika Felix, prop*
• Jason Higgins, scrumhalf (via trade with San Diego)
• Justice Nkombua, flanker*
• Paddy Ryan, prop*
• Mark O’Keeffe, center*
• Janus Venter, hooker
• Mike Matarazzo, lock/flanker*
• Ignacio Peculo, prop
• Cassh Maluia, outside back
• Guillermo Pujadas, hooker
• Dylan Fawsitt, hooker
• James Scott, lock
• Nate Augspurger, wing (via trade with NOLA Gold)
• Brad Tucker, lock/flanker (via Dispersal Draft)
• Mason Flesch, flanker (via Dispersal Draft)
• Michael Hand, wing
• Lucas Rumball, flanker

Star denotes a re-signed player.