Jersey RFC and Leicester Lions are to meet for the first time this weekend as the Island side make the trip to the East Midlands.
Leicester Lions were formed in 1998 through the amalgamation of two clubs, Westleigh and Wigston – established in 1904 and 1946 respectively. Previously situated about two miles apart to the south of Leicester, it was decided the two clubs’ futures would be enhanced as a joint body, based at Westleigh Park in Blaby.
The Lions began their League career in Midlands One and finished fourth in their first season. By 2005 they earned promotion to National Three North, then in 2009 moved up to National Two North, finishing third in 2016 and 2017.
In a re-organisation of Leagues, Lions spent two campaigns in National Two South before switching to National Two West for the 2022/23 season. They lost just one game and won the league by a margin of 18 points, subsequently spending three seasons in National One until being relegated in April of this year.
Notable former Lions, Westleigh and Wigston players include World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, and other England internationals in lock Louis Deacon and centre Billy Twelvetrees.
Both sides have had tough starts to 2026/27 and will be looking to claim their first win of the campaign at the third attempt. While JRFC suffered home defeats by London Welsh and Guernsey Raiders, the Lions were beaten 40-19 at home by the Raiders on the opening day and last weekend went down 40-10 to Oundle.
One familiar face in the Lions’ line-up is likely to be player-coach Dan Tomanek. The fly-half was formerly with Tunbridge Wells and played against JRFC in recent Regional One encounters, and was also in the Island in July with the Polish national side, for whom he qualifies through his family ancestry, for the game against a combined Channel Islands side.
Head of Rugby Myles Landick makes several changes to the JRFC squad this weekend through a combination of some players returning to contention while a significant proportion of his squad are injured or otherwise unavailable.
Freddie Earnshaw will start at full-back as Mark Boarer moves forward to fly-half, where he will line up alongside scrum-half John O’Sullivan. Injury last weekend for Dan Barnes means the versatile George Willmott is moved from the back row to midfield.
The forward pack sees several players return to the starting XV: Jack Macfarlane is picked in the back row as Joe Ridgway starts at hooker, while tighthead prop Tom Wilson and lock James Guyatt will also start the game.
Among the Jersey replacements, forwards Cam Queree, Bryn Edwards and Nathan Thomas are set to see their first league action of the new campaign after impressing in the 2nd XV win over Guernsey last Saturday.
Following the Lions’ game JRFC Men will complete their September schedule with another away trip to Henley Hawks, while the women’s XV will open their season on home turf when Lordswood Valkyries visit CoinShares Park on Saturday 26th September (k-o 12.30pm). The following Saturday, October 3rd, will see the men at home to Colchester (k-o 2.30pm).
Jersey RFC squad v Leicester Lions (H) – 2026/27 National 2 East, game 3/26, Westleigh Park, Saturday September 19th, k-o 2pm
Starting backs (15-9)
Freddie Earnshaw; Lance Armstrong, George Willmott, Dylan Stocks, Rhys Thomas; Mark Boarer, John O’Sullivan.
Starting forwards (1-8)
Huw Owen (capt), Joe Ridgway, Tom Wilson, Toby Osborne, James Guyatt, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Tilstone, Luke Bowles.
Replacements (16-20)
Cam Queree, Nathan Thomas, Bryn Edwards, Bevan Biggs, Harry Baty.
