Hounds Extend Utility Back Michael Baska
January 2, 2024 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Chicago Hounds News Release
CHICAGO, IL- The Hounds announced today they agreed to a contract extension with utility back Michael Baska for the 2024 Major League Rugby season.
After primarily featuring as a scrumhalf for the majority of the 2023 season, Baska transitioned into a versatile chess piece towards the back end of the campaign. He appeared off of the bench at wing in the Hounds' Week 17 win over the Utah Warriors and then started on the wing in the Week 18 win over the Dallas Jackals. That versatility is expected to be on display throughout the 2024 season as well.
Baska appeared in all 16 contests for the Hounds in 2023, starting nine of those games and playing a total of 838 minutes. He attempted 617 passes and completed 536 of those attempts successfully (87% successful pass rate). With the ball in hand, Baska gained 223 meters on 39 carries (5.7 meters-per-carry), beating six defenders and making one clean line break. He finished the season with five points via one scored try. On defense, Baska completed 84 of his 107 tackle attempts.
Prior to the 2023 season, the Lindenwood University product spent a season with Rouen Normandie in the French Pro D2 league. Before moving to Rouen Normandie, Baska played for the Warriors in 2020 and 2021. During the 2021 season, he started at scrum half for Utah and helped lead them to a 10-6 regular season record, culminating in a Western Conference Championship game appearance. Baska appeared in 13 contests, logging 876 minutes, and completing 672 passes in the process. He scored a career-high four tries on his 30 carries, gaining 146 meters in the process.
Baska began his MLR career with New Orleans, suiting up for the Gold in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. To date, he's earned 52 MLR caps and played over 2,500 minutes while making 29 starts. He's completed 1,563 of his 1,795 pass attempts (87% pass success rate). Offensively, he has 124 carries for 898 meters gained (7.2 MPC) and is credited with five clean line breaks and 17 defenders beaten. Baska's career point total sits at 46 points via eight tries, including a seven-pointer, and two successful conversion kicks. Defensively, he's completed 225 of his 289 tackle attempts.
Roster to Date:
To date, the Chicago Hounds have signed the following players for the 2024 Major League Rugby season:
Nick McCarthy, scrumhalf
Ben Landry, lock/flanker
Dave Kearney, wing
Bryce Campbell, center*
Zurabi Zhvania, prop
Billy Meakes, center*
Julian Dominguez, wing*
George Merrick, lock
Tinashe Muchena, back row*
Adriaan Carelse, fullback
Mika Felix, prop*
Jason Higgins, scrumhalf (via trade with San Diego)
Justice Nkombua, flanker*
Paddy Ryan, prop*
Mark O'Keeffe, center*
Janus Venter, hooker
Mike Matarazzo, lock/flanker*
Ignacio Peculo, prop
Cassh Maluia, outside back
Guillermo Pujadas, hooker
Dylan Fawsitt, hooker
James Scott, lock
Nate Augspurger, wing (via trade with NOLA Gold)
Brad Tucker, lock/flanker (via Dispersal Draft)
Mason Flesch, flanker (via Dispersal Draft)
Michael Hand, wing
Lucas Rumball, flanker
Conall Boomer, flanker
Caolan Dooley, utility back
Fred Apulu, prop*
Michael Baska, utility back*
Star denotes a re-signed player.
Major League Rugby Stories from January 2, 2024
- Hounds Extend Utility Back Michael Baska - Chicago Hounds
- Hounds Appoint Janet Kean as Imagine Rugby Coordinator - Chicago Hounds
- Dallas Jackals Re-Sign Fly-Half Nazareno Valentini - Dallas Jackals
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