Australian back row Maclean Jones played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. He represented the Austin Gilgronis (2021-2022) and the Chicago Hounds (2023-2025).

Jones played Rugby Union, Rugby League, and cricket through school, focusing on Rugby Union from 2013 when he toured the UK & Ireland with the Australian Schoolboys. He played with the Australia U20s at the u20 World Cup in Manchester in 2016, and captained the side at the Oceania Tournament in Brisbane, earning a rugby scholarship to the University of Queensland, and played with the Warringah Rats in the 2017 Shute Shield. Jones earned his Super Rugby debut with the Waratahs in 2019, while also playing with the NSW Country Eagles in the NRC.

Maclean Jones had signed with the Austin Gilgronis ahead of the 2020 MLR season, but visa delays meant that he was unable to travel stateside before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season after only 5 rounds. Jones made it over to join the Gilgronis for the 2021 season, earning 13 appearances (all starts) for the AGs and scoring 2 tries. He earned another 9 caps (7 starts) in the 2022 regular season, before the Austin Gilgronis were disqualified (along with sister team the LA Giltinis) from the 2022 season for alleged cap salary breaches prior to the 2022 Championship Series. In the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, Maclean Jones was selected 22nd overall by the Chicago Hounds expension side, with whom he signed a multi-year contract ahead of their inaugural season in 2023. Jones earned a career high 15 appearances (all starts) for the Hounds in 2023, scoring 3 tries and completing 188 successful tackles, putting him 8th league-wide in that category.

On 3rd July 2024, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had re-signed Mac Jones on a 2yr deal through the 2026 MLR season. Jones would enjoy a stellar season in 2024, setting a new personal best in tackles made with 199, finishing 3rd in MLR. He appeared in all 18 of Chicago’s games, starting 15 times and scoring 4 tries as they qualified for the playoffs for the first time in team history, where they defeated the NOLA Gold on the road to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, where the Hounds fell 23-17 to the eventual champions, the New England Free Jacks. For his performance in 2024, Jones was named to the All-MLR Second XV and named as the Chicago Hounds Forward of the Year.

On January 9th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds confirmed the return of Maclean Jones for the 2025 season, the first of his new 2yr deal with the team. That season, Jones continued his stellar performances for the Hounds. He scored 9 tries, more than double his previous career high of 4, and started all 16 of his appearances that season as the Hounds advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the 2nd year in a row, falling to the New England Free Jacks by a single point. He completed well over 200 tackles for the first time in his career, finishing 6th League-wide with 222 taking his career total to 885, and gained over 200m in possession. For his substantial efforts, Jones was named both Chicago Hounds Player of the Year, and Players’ Player of the Year at the team’s 2025 End of Season awards and was named to the All-MLR Second XV.

achievements

• 2025 All-MLR Second XV Selection
• 6th in MLR Tackling: 2025 (222)
• 2025 Chicago Hounds Players’ Player of the Year
• 2025 Chicago Hounds Player of the Year
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 5
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 1
• 2024 All-MLR Second XV Selection: Chicago Hounds
• 2024 Chicago Hounds Forward of the Year
• 3rd in MLR Tackling: 2024 (199)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 10
• 8th in MLR Tacking: 2023 (188)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 4
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 9