Leicester Lions are a
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, two codes of ru ...
club who currently play in
National League 2 West
National League 2 West is a new rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in the Midlands and South West England. The remainder of England is covered by two other re ...
– at tier 4 of the
English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England cons ...
. The Lions are a leading
amateur club in Leicester and along with
Loughborough University
Loughborough University (abbreviated as ''Lough'' or ''Lboro'' for post-nominals) is a public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university since 1966, but it dates back to 1909, whe ...
and
Hinckley
Hinckley is a market town in south-west Leicestershire, England. It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Hinckley is the third largest settlement in the administrative county of Leicestershire, after Leicester and Lough ...
are the senior clubs in Leicestershire after
Premiership Rugby
Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership has consisted of thirteen clubs since 2021, and is the ...
side
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its ho ...
. 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).
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
Honours
Leicester Lions
(1998–present)
*
Leicestershire County Cup winners (3): 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04
*
Midlands Division 1 champions: 2004–05
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
References
External links
Official club website
{{Rugby union in England
English rugby union teams
Rugby clubs established in 1999
Sport in Leicester
Rugby union clubs in Leicestershire
Blaby
1999 establishments in England