League: Major League Rugby

Founded in 2017 with it’s inaugural season played in 2018, Major League Rugby (MLR) is the highest level of professional rugby in North America.

Tinashe Muchena

US-eligible Zimbabwean back row Tinashe Muchena played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025, representing the Houston SaberCats (2022, 2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2023-2024).

Muchena became the first Zimbabwean ever selected in the MLR Collegiate draft when he was picked 15th overall by the Houston SaberCats in the 2021 Draft. The 2021 Rudy Scholtz Award nominee was not considered US-eligible during the 2022 MLR season and with international slots a commodity in MLR, he played with Houston‘s academy team Rugby HTX. The Lindenwood product signed with the Chicago Hounds expansion side in February 2023 and earned 5 MLR caps during the 2023 season, earning 2 starts and a Team of the Week selection in Round 17.

On October 30th 2023, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Tinashe Muchena for the 2024 MLR season where he earned an additional 2 MLR appearances including 1 start. On March 11th, 2025, 4 rounds into the 2025 MLR season, the Houston SaberCats announced the signing of Tinashe Muchena for the remainder of the 2025 season, returning full circle to the team that drafted him. In his second stint with the ‘Cats, Muchena earned a 4th career MLR start and 4 further appearances to take his career total to 11 in 3 seasons. He also completed 27 tackles to help the SaberCats secure a post-season spot, eventually advancing to the 2025 MLR Championship game, where they fell to the New England Free Jacks.

Achievements:

2023 – RD 14: Rugby ATL v Dallas Jackals

The Dallas Jackals travel to Georgia to face Rugby ATL at Silverbacks Park in what was the very first meeting between the two sides during Round 14 of the 2023 season.

Emerging as 19-27 victors, this game marks the 2nd win in club history for the Dallas Jackals and the first win in the road! As this was the first meeting between Dallas and Rugby ATL, it also marks the very first time that Dallas has a winning record over an opponent, now leading 1-0 over ATL.

For Rugby ATL, this seriously damaged their hopes for a playoff berth in 2023, as they sat 5th in the East following this loss.

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Chris Hilsenbeck

California born test capped German fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck played in Major League Rugby in 2023, and again in 2025-2026. He represented Rugby ATL (2023) and the Chicago Hounds (2025-2026).

Prior to his move to MLR, Hilsenbeck had spent his entire professional career playing in France in the Pro D2, mainly with Vannes where he had over well over 100 appearances, and over 800pts. Rugby ATL announced the signing of then-31yo Hilsenbeck on May 17th, 2023 for the remainder of the season, joining from US Carcassonne. Hilsenbeck started all 4 of his appearances for Rugby ATL in 2023, kicking 11pts and going 5/7 from the tee. Following the 2023 season, and news that Rugby ATL had changed ownership and would be relocating, Hilsenbeck returned to Europe and the ProD2, where he joined Biarritz.

On February 9th, 2025, 1 week before the MLR season kicked off, the agency representing Chris Hilsenbeck, KHAOS Sports, announced that US-eligible Hilsenbeck had signed with the Chicago Hounds for the 2025 MLR season. Hilsenbeck stepped up in a huge way for the Hounds in the 2025 season, starting 12 of his 15 games and scoring 1 try and 109pts in total. He started both of Chicago’s postseason games including their Eastern Conference Final clash with the New England Free Jacks, were he had an opportunity to win the game in the final minute, but his penalty kick rang off the upright in Quincy, and the Free Jacks knocked the Chicago Hounds out by a score of 21-20. Hilsenbeck earned two Team of the Week selections in 2025 and finished as the Top Scorer of the 2025 MLR season and was the only player to finish with over 100pts scored. For his performance in 2025, Hilsenbeck was named to the All-MLR 1st XV.

Although capped for Germany, US-born Hilsenbeck was included in the USA Eagles squad for their 2025 July tests, and earned his debut as Eagle #590 when he came off the bench in a 36-17 victory over Belgium on July 5th, 2025. 4 months later to the day on 5th November 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Hilsenbeck for their 2026 MLR campaign.

achievements

James Hilterbrand

Australian-born USA Eagle James Hilterbrand featured in Major League Rugby during the 2022 & 2023 seasons.

The Front row signed with San Diego Legion head of the 2022 MLR season and earned 3 caps (all starts) including their one playoff game in 2022.

Following his stint with the Legion, Hilterbrand played with the Manly Marlins in the Shute Shield competition in Australia, but on May 17th, 2023 the New England Free Jacks announce the signing of Hilterbrand for the remainder of the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

2023 – RD 14: Toronto Arrows v Old Glory DC

Old Glory DC travel north of the border to face the Toronto Arrows at York Lions Stadium during Round 14 of the 2023 season.

The Toronto Arrows managed to salvage a draw thanks to a last minute D’Shawn Bowen try. The win was available via the conversion, but it was a tricky angle and Peter Nelson floated it wide.

This was the 2nd draw of the 2023 Major League Rugby season with both of them featuring the Toronto Arrows in back-to-back weeks after their 34-34 draw with Rugby ATL last week. Through the 2025 season, the Toronto Arrows remain the only team in MLR history to have tied back-to-back games.

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