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The Road to Retirement Ollie Devoto, the England and Exeter center, is set to end his career with the Chicago Hounds on Sunday, as they seek to win the first Major League Rugby crown. Devoto, who arrived in Illinois for the 2025 MLR season, has had a successful career, including Premiership and European titles with Exeter and two caps for England. Chicago Hounds' Championship Hopes The Hounds have had an impressive season, winning all 10 regular-season games and putting a half-century on Old Glory DC in the playoffs. They will start as heavy favorites in the championship game, hosted at their SeatGeek Stadium home in Bridgeview, Chicago. Devoto expressed his excitement about the game, saying, "It'll be a special day for the team and it'll be a special day personally as well." The Data Analysis 10 regular-season games won by the Chicago Hounds Average crowds of 4,000 to 5,000 at SeatGeek Stadium Over 10,000 spectators have watched a championship game at the stadium before The Impact Analysis Devoto believes that the MLR and American rugby as a whole have the potential to grow massively. He notes that Americans love combat sports, but for some reason, they haven't quite nailed rugby yet. The US hosting the 2031 men's World Cup and 2033 women's World Cup could be a significant step in the growth of the sport. The Prediction Devoto's Chicago Hounds will face the California Legion in the championship game. He expressed his admiration for the team's setup and facilities, saying, "The setup and the facilities that Chicago has are as good, if not better, than when I was at the Chiefs." With their strong performance this season, the Hounds are likely to be a competitive force in the league for years to come.

Will Sherman, a 22‑year‑old second‑row forward for Anthem Rugby Carolina, is quickly being labelled the next cornerstone of US rugby. The Charlotte‑based player combines a deep family legacy with a modern development pathway that could shape the national team ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup. Sherman’s rugby pedigree begins with his father, Wade Sherman, a member of the 1990s Cal Berkeley champion side that featured Mark Bingham – one of the heroic passengers on Flight 93. Wade’s own introduction to the sport came after a teenage trip to Australia’s Bondi Beach, where he and friends first saw the game and later founded a high‑school team in northern California before playing for Cal and BYU. He now serves as Will’s first coach. Raised in Utah’s vibrant Pacific Islander community, Sherman attended East High School, a hub for the state’s long‑standing rugby culture. Standing 6 ft 4 in and capable of playing both lock and flanker, he attributes his physicality and work ethic to the “hard‑knock” lessons learned on Utah pitches. After a stint at UCLA—where the club side operates with varsity‑level commitment but without the same resources—Sherman caught the eye of Australian coach Harry Bennett. Bennett’s mentorship helped Sherman earn a place on the US under‑23 tour of South Africa, a tour overseen by Argentine coach Agustín Cavalieri, now head coach at Anthem. In his MLR debut against the California Legion, Sherman logged roughly 50 minutes, received a yellow card for repeated infringements, and recorded 19 tackles. While impressive, it was eclipsed by the 36 tackles he made in a single match for Australia’s storied Randwick club last season, underscoring his rapid adaptation to elite competition. Anthem, backed by World Rugby as a development vehicle for the 2031 World Cup, endured a winless first two seasons (0‑32). The team finally broke the streak with a 39‑26 victory over the Legion, a game in which Sherman’s performance earned him the nickname “Wreck‑It Will” from college friends. Reflecting on the win, Sherman said the moment was “an amazing honor” and highlighted the broader significance: “Every game now feels like a first—our first win at home, our first win against Chicago—so the motivation keeps building.” He also praised the experience of matching up against veteran lock and Eagles captain Jason Damm, calling it “an honor to play against someone I’ve looked up to for so long.” Looking ahead, Anthem’s schedule includes a clash with the Chicago Hounds on ESPN+, a key step in the club’s quest to become a consistent pipeline for American talent ahead of the 2031 World Cup.