Mason Flesch

Nationality
canCanada
Position
Number 8, Flanker, Lock
Height
6'5"
Weight
245lbs
Current Team
Hounds
Past Teams
Arrows

Ontario native Mason Flesch played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the Toronto Arrows between 2021-2023, and the Chicago Hounds from 2024-2026.

A native of Cobourg, Ontario, Flesch represented the Canada U20 side at the Junior World Trophy in 2019, and between 2019-2021 was a part of Rugby Canada’s residential Men’s Development Academy at the Al Charron National Training Centre and played for the Pacific Pride in the BC Premier League. His original signing was announced by the Arrows in March 2021, just before the start of the season. The Arrows spent the 2021 season entirely on the road based out of Atlanta, and Flesch earned 10 caps (7 starts) delivering a solid debut season in North America.

Though he missed a large part of the 2022 season with injury, Mason Flesch earned 27 caps (22 starts) through his first 3 seasons with the Toronto Arrows including a high of 14 caps (all starts) in 2023, racking up over 400m gained and completing 105 tackles. On 16th October 2023, the Toronto Arrows announced that Mason Flesch was returning for the 2024 MLR season, however in late November 2023, the Toronto Arrows announced that they would not be competing in the 2024 season due to a lack of funding. On December 13th, 2023 MLR held a dispersal Draft for Toronto & NY players (the Ironworkers also pulled out of the 2024 season a week after the Arrows, again due to financial difficulties), and the Chicago Hounds selected Mason Flesch 3rd overall. They announced the signing of Flesch for the 2024 season on 16th December, 2023, where he joined Arrows captain Lucas Rumball. Because Flesch opted in to the Dispersal Draft, his 2024 salary will not count against the Hounds cap hit for the 2024 season.

In 2024, Flesch earned a PB 15 appearances and scored 3 tries, carrying for over 500m as the Hounds qualified for the MLR Playoffs for the first time in team history, and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after dispatching the NOLA Gold 21-45, a game that Flesch started. For his performance in 2024, Flesch was named to the All-MLR Second XV and was named as the Chicago Hounds Player of the Year. On January 9th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds confirmed the return of Mason Flesch for the 2025 season, his 2nd with the team and 5th in the league. Flesch enjoyed an excellent 2025 season with the Hounds, starting all 15 of his appearances and scoring a career high 6 tries, tripling his total. Flesch also completed a career high 165 tackles to take his total to just shy of 500, earning a pair of MLR Team of the Week selections, as well as being named MLR Player of the Week in Round 9. He started both of the Hounds’ playoff games in 2025 as they defeated Old Glory DC before falling to the New England Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference Final.

On 12th November, 2025 while Flesch was touring with the Canadian national team for their November tests, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Mason Flesch for his 3rd season with the team and 6th in MLR in 2026, which proven to be his breakout season. On a dominant Chicago Hounds team, Flesch still stood out during the 2026 campaign. He started 9 of their 10 regular season games as they recorded a perfect 10-0 season, before starting both playoff games as the Hounds claimed their first MLR Shield in front of a home crowd, finishing a perfect 12-0 season as a Champion. He earned 3 MLR Team of the Week selections and scored 10 tries in 11 games, including one in each of their playoff games, the Semifinal against Old Glory DC, and the Championship Game against the California Legion. Flesch had a knack of stepping up when the team needed him most and was excellent whether he started at lock or on the flank. He completed an even 100 tackles during the 2026 season and beat 17 defenders to gain over 200m in possession, and even recorded a try assist. Along with Hounds teammate Theo Fourie, Flesch was one of only two players to record double-digit tries scored in 2026. For his incredibly season, Mason Flesch was named as both the Chicago Hounds’ Player of the Year, and Players’ Player of the Year for 2026, as well as MLR Forward of the Year.

Achievements

Major League Rugby

SeasonTeamGPGSTCPDGAsst.MGDBTacklesKS/KAPts
MLR 2021Arrows107000008005900
MLR 2022Arrows31000004402500
MLR 2023Arrows141400000412010500
MLR 2024Hounds1615300005490136015
MLR 2025Hounds1515620012120165034
MLR 2026Hounds111110000120217100050
Total-6963192002149917590099