Leicester Lions are a rugby union club which currently play in the third tier of the English rugby union system, National League 1, following their promotion from National League 2 West in 2023. The Lions are a leading amateur club in Leicester and along with Loughborough University and Hinckley are the senior clubs in Leicestershire after Premiership Rugby side Leicester Tigers. The club was formed as a result of an amalgamation between two local clubs in 1998, these being Westleigh RFC (established in 1904) and Wigston RFC (established in 1946).[2][3]
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| Full name | Leicester Lions Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Leicestershire RU | |
| Founded | 1998 | |
| Location | Blaby, Leicestershire, England | |
| Ground(s) | Westleigh Park (Capacity: 2,000[1]) | |
| League(s) | National League 1 | |
| 2022–23 | 1st (promoted to National League 1) | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
Leicester Lions boast several high-profile names amongst their former and current players and coaching staff. Jason Aldwinckle, the former Leicester Tigers' hooker is the forwards coach, while the former club captain and England Counties outside back Gareth Collins has taken over as head coach. Notable former Lions, Westleigh and Wigston players include England World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson, England lock Louis Deacon, Tigers back-rower Brett Deacon and Gloucester and England centre Billy Twelvetrees.
Current standings edit
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| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Points | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinnor (C) | 25 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 997 | 363 | 634 | 20 | 3 | 107 | ||||||
| 2 | Rams | 25 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 756 | 546 | 210 | 19 | 3 | 98 | ||||||
| 3 | Rosslyn Park | 25 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 737 | 623 | 114 | 16 | 4 | 80 | ||||||
| 4 | Plymouth Albion | 25 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 598 | 543 | 55 | 12 | 4 | 72 | ||||||
| 5 | Birmingham Moseley | 25 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 610 | 636 | -26 | 11 | 6 | 71 | ||||||
| 6 | Darlington Mowden Park | 25 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 595 | 640 | -45 | 11 | 6 | 65 | ||||||
| 7 | Blackheath | 25 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 609 | 566 | 43 | 9 | 4 | 63 | ||||||
| 8 | Richmond | 25 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 639 | 663 | -24 | 13 | 8 | 63 | ||||||
| 9 | Sedgley Park | 25 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 639 | 734 | -95 | 11 | 4 | 61 | ||||||
| 10 | Sale FC | 25 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 553 | 605 | -52 | 8 | 4 | 56 | ||||||
| 11 | Bishop's Stortford | 25 | 9 | 0 | 16 | 565 | 724 | -159 | 9 | 6 | 51 | ||||||
| 12 | Leicester Lions | 25 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 502 | 683 | -181 | 7 | 3 | 50 | ||||||
| 13 | Taunton Titans | 25 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 666 | 898 | -232 | 16 | 4 | 48 | ||||||
| 14 | Cinderford | 25 | 9 | 0 | 16 | 506 | 748 | -242 | 5 | 5 | 46 | ||||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. Updated: 13 April 2024 Source: "National League 1". RugbyEngland. Source: "National League Rugby – Promotion and Relegation: 2023-24". | |||||||||||||||||
Honours edit
Leicester Lions (1998–present)
- Leicestershire County Cup winners (3): 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04[a]
- National League 2 West champions: 2022–23
- Midlands Division 1 champions: 2004–05[4]
Westleigh (Parent club)
- Leicestershire County Cup winners (5): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1995–96
Wigston (Parent club)
- Leicestershire County Cup winners: 1973–74
- Leicestershire 1 champions: 1997–98
Notes edit
- ^ If you count the wins by parent clubs Westleigh RFC (5) and Wigston (1) then Leicester Lions have won the Leicestershire County Cup nine times.
References edit
- ^ "Leicester Lions RFC Fixtures History and Club Information". 29 May 2013.
- ^ "History". Leicester Lions RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "Leicester Lions (Team History)". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Leicester Lions savour promotion". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
