The Rugby Lions went through a difficult second decade at the start of the 21st century. After the untimely death of Chairman and owner during Covid, the club found itself in dire straits - being withdrawn from the RFU leagues and eventually closed during the pandemic.
2022 offered a new dawn under the guidance of former player Mal Malik, who had been a key figure in the Lion’s rise to the top echelons, decades earlier. A new men’s team was recruited from the faithful remnants of the senior squad, the Lionesses re-formed, and the Minis and Junior section encouraged to grow again.
We even took up the challenge of competing in the inaugural Amateur Rugby World Cup competition which ran alongside the Rugby World Cup in France 2023. The Rugby Lions represented England amongst a group of 20 teams from every rugby playing nation in the world. We recruited some players from our neighbouring clubs in the town and were proud to make it through to the quarter finals of the competition.
The Lions have had to start their new journey at the bottom of the RFU playing pyramid. It has been a challenge, financially, administratively and on the playing front! But as each day goes by, we move forward together getting stronger to face the challenges ahead.
This season, that responsibility on the playing side has fallen to former player John Hemsley in his role as Director of Rugby. Together, we move forward, in a humble and honourable path to rebuilding trust amongst ourselves and within the town of Rugby to drive the Rugby Lions forward and re-establish the town as the ‘Home of Rugby Football’.
