By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
The Chicago Hounds dropped their Major League Rugby Eastern Conference final, 23-17, to defending champion New England on July 27 to end their second season.
The Hounds held a 17-16 lead in the 67th minute, but the Free Jacks took the lead for good five minutes later and hung on.
The victory puts New England in their second consecutive league title game. They will face the Seattle Seawolves at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
Last year, New England won the championship game, 25-24, over San Diego at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.