Chicago Hounds Extend Mason Flesch Through 2026 Season

The Chicago Hounds announced that flanker Mason Flesch has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2026 Major League Rugby season.

Flesch, a Canadian international, began his MLR career with the Toronto Arrows before joining Chicago in 2023 through the Dispersal Draft. His first season with the Hounds in 2024 marked a breakout year, as he posted career-best numbers across multiple categories. Flesch started 15 matches, appeared in 16 games, and logged 1,180 minutes. He also scored his first three MLR tries and made 136 tackles on 157 attempts, earning Second-Team All-MLR honors — his first postseason recognition.

In the most recent campaign, Flesch continued his upward trajectory. He started all 15 games, surpassing 1,000 minutes played for the second straight year. Offensively, he scored six tries, including two seven-point scores, totaling 34 points. Defensively, he delivered a personal-best 163 tackles and recorded 10 dominant tackles.

Entering the upcoming season, Flesch has accumulated 58 MLR caps, including 52 starts, and logged more than 3,800 minutes. Over the course of his career, he has made nearly 500 successful tackles and carried the ball for more than 1,300 meters. He made his Chicago debut in March 2024 against the Miami Sharks.