Leicester Lions RFC

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]

Leicester Lions

Full name	Leicester Lions Rugby Football Club
Union	Leicestershire RU
Founded	1998; 27 years ago (1998)
Location	Blaby, Leicestershire, England
Ground(s)	Westleigh Park (Capacity: 2,000[1])
League(s)	National League 1
2024–25	12th
Team kit
Official website
www.lionsrfc.co.uk

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

2025–26 National League 1 table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Birmingham Moseley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion place
2	Blackheath	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion Play-off
3	Bishop's Stortford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Clifton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Dings Crusaders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Leeds Tykes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Leicester Lions	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Plymouth Albion	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Rams	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Rosslyn Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Rotherham Titans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Sale FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation place
13	Sedgley Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Tonbridge Juddians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: National League Rugby ^[4]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Number of matches drawn
3. Difference between points for and against
4. Total number of points for
5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Honours

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^[5]

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

1. 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.