Syston RFC

Syston Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Queniborough, Leicestershire. The club run four senior sides, a vets, colts and all age groups from under-7 to under-19.^[1] The first XV currently play in National League 2 West, at the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, following their promotion from Regional 1 Midlands at the end of the 2024–25 season.

Syston RFC

Full name	Syston Rugby Football Club
Union	Leicestershire RU
Founded	1887; 138 years ago (1887)
Location	Queniborough, Leicestershire, England
Ground(s)	Barkby Road (Since 1989) Fosse Way
President	Andy Ward
Coach(es)	Alex White
League(s)	Regional 1 Midlands
2024–25	1st (promoted to National League 2 West)
Official website
www.systonrfc.co.uk

History

Syston RFC was formed in 1887 when a number of players who lived locally or who attended nearby Barrow Grammar School came together to form the club. ^[2] The club had various homes over the years in Syston and their first real home was on the Fosse Way in Syston where the foundations for the current Club were firmly laid. With a permanent home at Fosse Way the club's fortunes began to improve, and by the late 1960s the club was beginning to flourish as the local schools took to playing rugby and a steady stream of players was assured.

The club regained its level 5 status in 2011 after the 1st XV gained promotion as champions from Midlands 1 East into National League 3 (Midlands). The club had not played at that level for a decade.

Honours

• Leicestershire County Cup winners (9): 1912, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2010, 2018, 2019^[a]
• Midlands 1 East champions (4): 1990–91,^[b] 2010–11, 2014–15, 2019–20
• Midlands 3 East (North) champions: 2006–07
• Midlands 1 (east v west) promotion play-off winner: 2017–18
• Regional 1 Midlands champions: 2024–25

Notable players

Syston RFC has a history of developing young players with the club providing players for the County representative sides at all age groups for many years. A number of these players have gone on to play for Leicester Tigers in the top flight of English club rugby with some going on to represent England at full international level and Paul Dodge, also becoming England Captain and a member of the 1980 British Lions squad who toured in South Africa.

• Matt Cornwell
• Louis Deacon
• Brett Deacon
• Paul Dodge
• Matt Hampson

Current standings

2025–26 National League 2 West table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Barnstaple	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion place
2	Camborne	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Chester	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Cinderford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Exeter University	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Hinckley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Hornets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Loughborough Students	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Luctonians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Lymm	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Old Redcliffians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Redruth	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Syston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation place
14	Taunton Titans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: National League Rugby ^[3]
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

Notes

1. County Cup wins also include 1912 victory by Syston Street Old Boys who were an earlier incarnation of the club.
2. 1990–91 title was when league was known as Midlands 2 East.