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 and Wigston RFC.
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasionally Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 East, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000, and Midlands 1 East before regionalising again to its present format as part of England Rugby's Future Competition Structure change at the start of the 2022-23 season.
North Premier was a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the fourteen teams drawn from across Northern England. The other leagues at this level were London & South East Premier, Midlands Premier and South West Premier. The RFU reorganised the level five leagues for season 2022–23, with an increase from four to six and reducing the teams in each from fourteen to twelve. The teams in this league now play in either Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West.
Regional 1 Midlands is a level five semi-professional league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following a reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. Regional 1 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the English Midlands.
Midlands 2 East (North) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 2 East (North).
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, who play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 2 East (South).
Market Bosworth RFC is an English rugby union club based in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. Bosworth currently compete in the Midlands 2 East (South) league. The club play their home games at Cadeby Lane and their colours are blue and yellow. During the 2011 season, Market Bosworth's under 17's were National Champions as well as County Champions. Former England and British and Irish Lions player, Ollie Smith played for Market Bosworth from the age of 14. Market Bosworth's local rivals are Hinckley RFC.
Luctonians Sports Club is an English sports club based in Kingsland, Herefordshire. The rugby union team currently plays in National League 2 West, the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, following their promotion from the Midlands Premier at the end of the 2018–19 season via the play-offs. The club runs four senior sides and a full range of junior sides. Apart from rugby, Luctonians hosts the practice of cricket, golf, cycling, having also a netball, rounders, ladies touch and ladies contact section for women.
Bedford Athletic Rugby Club is a rugby union team based in Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire. The club currently play in the fifth tier of the English rugby union system, participating in Regional 1 South East after being promoted from Midlands 1 East and via a level-transfer from Midlands Premier at the end of the 2017–18 season. The club runs two senior sides, a veterans team and a colts team. There is currently no junior section at Bedford Athletic.
Derby Rugby Club is an English rugby union team based in Derby, England. The club runs four senior sides, a veterans team, a ladies team, a colts team and a full set of junior sides. The first XV currently plays in Regional 1 Midlands, a fifth tier league in the English rugby union system.
Syston Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Queniborough, Leicestershire. The club runs four senior sides, a vets, colts and all age groups from under-7 to under-19. The first XV currently plays in Regional 1 Midlands, at the fifth tier of the English rugby union system, following their promotion from Midlands 1 East at the end of the 2019–20 season.
Ampthill Rugby Club is an English rugby union team based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. The club runs six senior teams and the full range of junior sides. The first XV play in the RFU Championship, the second tier of the English rugby union system.
Bournville Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Birmingham. The club has recently moved to new facilities at Avery Fields, 79 Sandon Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B17 8DT. The club operates three senior men's teams, a women's side, a veterans' team and a full range of junior teams. The first XV currently play in the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, having been promoted from the Midlands Premier in season 2019–20.
Hereford Rugby Club is an English rugby union team based in Hereford, Herefordshire. The club operates four senior teams, a veterans team, a colts team and a full range of junior teams. The first XV currently play in the sixth tier of the English rugby union system in Regional 2 West Midlands following relegation National League 3 Midlands at the end of the 2011–12 season.
The Leicestershire Rugby Union (LRU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland in England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for those counties. The LRU administers and organises rugby union clubs and competitions in those two counties and administers the Leicestershire county rugby representative teams.
The Leicestershire County Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organized by the Leicestershire Rugby Union. It was first introduced in 1890 with the inaugural winners being South Wigston. The competition was known as the Leicestershire League Cup until 1893 when it was changed to Leicestershire Senior Cup. The first competition was open to the top sides in the county apart from the Leicester FC first XV, who were considered too strong and would instead enter an 'A' team up until 1906. Smaller clubs in the county, as well as senior club second sides, played in the Leicestershire Junior Cup which had its inaugural competition three seasons earlier in 1887.
East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegated teams dropped to East Midlands/Leicestershire 2.
Leicestershire 1 was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 and relegated teams dropped to Leicestershire 2. The league ran for two spells between 1987–1992 and 1996–1998 before it was permanently cancelled and the majority of teams transferred into either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or East Midlands/Leicestershire 2.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East was a tier 9 division in the English rugby union system with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and the eastern region of Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegated teams dropped to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 2 East.
