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Major League Rugby

Chicago Hounds re-sign prop Koby Baker for 2026 MLR season

Koby Baker of the Chicago Hounds. Image via Chicago Hounds.

The Chicago Hounds have bolstered their propping stocks by re-signing 24-year-old Koby Baker for the 2026 season, which begins March 28.

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The up-and-comer’s rugby journey has seen him claim All-American honours during his high school career in North Carolina, before taking the opportunity to attend Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales.

A short stint in Australia followed, where he helped the Port Macquarie Pirates win a North Coast Rugby championship.

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Since returning to America in 2024, Baker has steadily worked his way through the ranks, starting with the American Raptors before making his MLR debut with Seattle, where he appeared in the 2024 final against the New England Free Jacks.

Baker now owns three Chicago Hounds caps after signing with the team ahead of the 2025 season, and has continued to impress with the Hounds Performance Squad.

The prop’s signing comes as the latest move for the Hounds, who have recently extended Mason Flesch, Mac Jones, and Lucas Rumball, as well as adding Emmanuel Albert to their loose forward stocks.

The team will kick off their 2026 season with a visit to Anthem Rugby Carolina on April 4.

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Comments on RugbyPass

c
cw 3 minutes ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

Much of what you say I agree with. But the 77 kicks in the Ireland France game was dire. NB was predicting that to climb to 100 kicks per game. That is not “a” point of contest - at that number it becomes the point of the contest. That is my main issue. Quick taps - blah blah - but incessant kicking with volley ball wide receivers - that’s going to kill the game we call rugby.

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S
Spew_81 12 minutes ago
Wave of mid-tier players heading abroad is hurting the All Blacks

Aki was seen as the next All Black 12 when he left. He just needed to see SBW off. But 2017 SBW was a shadow of his 2015 self. If Aki was available SBW getting red carded would’ve been all the chance Aki needed.

I can understand why Aki wasn’t going to rely on S Hansen dropping his golden boy. Hansen was in in love with the potential of SBW, but that peaked in 2015. Nonu was still a better 12 than SBW, even in 2019.



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S
Spew_81 22 minutes ago
Wave of mid-tier players heading abroad is hurting the All Blacks

Something like that seems like the best option.

Also, at the moment it costs so much to lock an All Black in that coaches feel the need to play them whether they are in form or not.



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36 Go to comments
S
Spew_81 33 minutes ago
Wave of mid-tier players heading abroad is hurting the All Blacks

A big part of the scrum dominance was Mike Cron. The All Blacks currently have a great crop of huge, skilled props, and good, explosive hookers.

I suspect the reduction in the All Blacks scrum performance is caused by two things 1) The scrum coaching at All Black level is comparatively lacking. But in saying that I don’t think Ryan is a bad scrum coach. Mike Cron essentially re-wrote the book regarding scrumming technique. 2) More than there being a reduced number of scrums - in general in Super Rugby. The lack of consistent scrumming against South African players, in Super Rugby, has hindered the All Blacks scrum development. In the old days by the time the Super Rugby season was over, the All Black hopefuls had been exposed to the South African props and learnt their tricks. These days they are far more of an unknown quantity.



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36 Go to comments
S
SB 36 minutes ago
Aussie Super Rugby takes: Lonergan exceptional for Brumbies, Gordon the difference for Reds

Lonergan is playing with great composure, wonder if he’ll get the chance to start for the Wallabies this year.

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S
Spew_81 41 minutes ago
Wave of mid-tier players heading abroad is hurting the All Blacks

I can see the value in letting the veterans e.g. 50 All Black caps play overseas (while on an overall contract to the NZRU), but still be eligible for the All Blacks.

The club pays 80% of their wage. The player bets that there isn’t an equal or better New Zealand based player.



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S
Spew_81 47 minutes ago
Wave of mid-tier players heading abroad is hurting the All Blacks

If the NZRU sends 18-21 year old raw talent overseas. In five years time a good portion of the best of them will be playing against the All Blacks.

Unsure if the NZRU will pay for long term contracts for all those 18-21 year olds that leave, to stop them playing for other nations. Or if those 18-21 year olds would sign such a contract.



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36 Go to comments
R
Rabble 51 minutes ago
'We wanted Charlie Cale at Racing 92 - now he's a Wallaby World Cup star in waiting'

I feel like Wilson is very much a maligned player. He is just as dynamic as Cale - just in different ways. Cale is obviously a real athlete and super fit and fast. But Wilson has a superb rugby brain - able to hit and spin to score tries no other Aussies are able to. He also is a great link / playmaking player, and excellent at finding the space (low-hanging fruit example is his through the legs pass on the weekend, but there are others). I say this one fairly seriously too - Wilson’s kicks are more than just a bit handy - 9/10 they’re as good as most 10’s!

However yeah, he does fall off a few more tackles than I’d like, he also seems a bit one-dimensional when doing a hit-up (aims for the man, not the space) - I know this contradicts what I said above, but I think it’s accurate.



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M
Mark 53 minutes ago
Steve Borthwick suffers second major injury blow as England squad updated

Lawrence clearly wasnt at 100% against Ireland, the continued exclusion of Ojomoh is utterly bizarre, and I fully realise that its tantamount to heresy to say so, but itoji has been nowhere near the level required and should be rested.

Its a bit same old tired faces unfortunately.



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J
JW 1 hour ago
Chiefs vs Crusaders takes: Kemara comes of age, Chiefs in shock

It wasn’t a tip tackle, it was a scuffle. That is just aussies for you.

Havili instigated the incident, so yes, that is what the ref had said not to do. It’s not a about me, this is the ref said not to do.



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J
JW 1 hour ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

Exactly, I don’t see a lot of value in those body shapes in the lineout anymore, much better to have someone who can assist as a running threat, lifter, or link man.

282 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
Rob Penney on Chay Fihaki's 'best in the world' skillset

If the world just consisted of Super Rugby countries then perhaps but even then I don’t think he’s one of the best. Clarke is the one who’s actually up there with the best in the world aerially.

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S
SK 1 hour ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

We have to ask ourselves if there is anything wrong with the game as is? France and South Africa are able to play and are using hybrids because you have to in the modern game. You have to be able to kick, be good in the air, be able to pass, win rucks, maintain possession and width and play off turnover. Not every match must feature 100+ rucks and 150-250 passes. Not every match needs 35+ minutes ball in play or fewer scrums. Football sets the standard for commercialised sport in the world. It produces many different types of matches. Some feature loads of shots, others lots of goals, many with lots of corners and free kicks and others with barely any. Different teams win in different ways and fans love it. In rugby defences have never been as stressed as they are now. There are so many ways to skin the proverbial cat in the modern game. As such its created an environment where sameness cannot exist, where there are multiple strategies that can win and where every team needs to adapt. You have to be good at set piece and when the ball moves. If Australia and NZ get their way there is no guarantee it will put bums on seats. In fact it may just do the opposite. Scrums, lineouts, power and physicality set rugby apart from other sports. Every set piece is a game within a game and fans love a contest. Reducing the contest that comes with set piece will reduce the spectacle.

282 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

Kicking has increased because defences have become better, stingier. On Average. Even lower ranked teams can have suffocating defences.

Good wingers can do more these days than just catch and run fast. Kicking skills have also improved. Pinpoint cross field kicks. And now, of course box kicks. Which have been around for ages anyway.



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282 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 1 hour ago
Rob Penney on Chay Fihaki's 'best in the world' skillset

This is bad take by Penny on Fihaki. His kick receiving has actually been quite bad the last couple of seasons. Dropping the ball with little pressure.

2 Go to comments
c
cw 2 hours ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

Well no one appointed you champions of the big guys.

Anyway take your victory - kick-a-thon rugby has won the day!



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282 Go to comments
O
Olly 2 hours ago
'We wanted Charlie Cale at Racing 92 - now he's a Wallaby World Cup star in waiting'

I noted it a few years ago when France came to Australia. Interesting D with the umbrella that left fools’ gold, IMO, out wide…Wallabies kept throwing the long ball, only to get isolated and turned over by backs strong on the ball.

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H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

I think the 7/1 is done. When last did we see it between two tier ones?

282 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Six Nations half-term report: 'France lead the charge in struggle for the soul of rugby'

I think they can stick up for themselves. No one has appointed you “champions for the little guys”.

Just because one or two other countries compete with the AFL and rugby league doesn’t mean everyone has to.



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282 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Saffa schools' star Josh Neill: 'End goal' is to become Ireland international

Who said anything about earning 20 times more, idiot?

You’ve obviously never come to South Africa and spent your hard earned dollars or Euros? Jackpot.



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