Major League Rugby Comes to Nashville's Geodis Park

Chicago Hounds take on New England Free Jacks in first-ever MLR match in the city.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:07pm

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A fragmented, multi-angled painting depicting a rugby match, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a palette of navy, green, and red, conveying the sport's fast-paced action and physicality.The geometric, cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy and intensity of a Major League Rugby match, reflecting the sport's growing popularity in Nashville.Today in Nashville

For the first time, Major League Rugby will hold a match in Nashville, Tennessee this Sunday at 3 p.m. The Chicago Hounds will face off against the New England Free Jacks at Geodis Park, the home stadium of Nashville SC.

Why it matters

This marks a major milestone for rugby's growth in the United States, as Nashville becomes the latest city to host an MLR match. The sport has been steadily gaining popularity across the country, and this event is expected to introduce the fast-paced, physical game to a new audience in Music City.

The details

Players James English and Jason Higgins from the Chicago Hounds visited the local news station to promote the upcoming match and encourage fans to come out and experience the excitement of live professional rugby.

  • The match will take place this Sunday, April 20, 2026 at 3 p.m. local time.

The players

Chicago Hounds

A professional rugby union team competing in Major League Rugby, the top-level rugby union competition in the United States and Canada.

New England Free Jacks

A professional rugby union team competing in Major League Rugby, representing the New England region of the United States.

James English

A player for the Chicago Hounds who appeared on the local news to promote the upcoming match.

Jason Higgins

A player for the Chicago Hounds who appeared on the local news to promote the upcoming match.

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What they’re saying

“We're bringing our gumption and our boots.”

— Jason Higgins, Chicago Hounds Player

What’s next

Fans can purchase tickets to attend the match this Sunday at Geodis Park in Nashville.

The takeaway

This first-ever Major League Rugby match in Nashville represents the continued growth and expansion of the sport across the United States, bringing the fast-paced, physical action of professional rugby to new audiences.