Team

The Chicago Hounds drafted versatile forward Jake Kinneeveauk in the second round of the 2025 Major League Rugby Draft with the 22nd overall pick. He made his Hounds’ debut in Week 10 of the 2025 season against the Seattle Seawolves, becoming Chicago Hound No. 75.

The physically imposing prospect enjoyed a standout career at the University of Utah before matriculating to MLR. As an underclassman in 2022, Kinneeveauk was highlighted by coaches throughout the Pac-12 conference as a player to watch. He followed that up with an impressive final two seasons for the Utes, earning All-Conference honors.

Due to his impressive career at Utah, Kinneeveauk earned an invitation to the MLR Rising- a combine style event held before the draft each year. After Kinneeveauk’s impressive combine performance put him on the Hounds radar, Chicago drafted the Alaskan-native in the second round of the 2024 draft.