History - History 1
1980’s
The club was founded in 1986 and Leicester lifted their first silverware in the form of the Nottingham and Mansfield Amateur Rugby League Association (NAMARLA) Division Championship in the 1987/88 season
1990’s
1993/94
Leicester competed in the East Midlands Amateur League finishing a creditable 3rd. During the season Leicester played at their current home location of Aylestonians. Other successes during this season saw Leicester make it through to the Second Round of the National Cup only to lose away to Carlisle 20-10 away. Leicester also made it through to the second round of the East Midlands Cup (Stephenson Cup) losing to Doncaster 30-18.
1994/95
The 1994/95 saw talks of a National Development League which Leicester and particular Chairman Julian Harrision were at the forefront of discussions alongside the then London Broncos Development Bev Risman.
During the season, plans were also being made at the national level for the inception Super League as Europe’s top level competition and to play during the summer of 1996. With club mergers being planned throughout the country, Leicester saw this as an opportunity to bring top level rugby league to the East Midlands so the plan was drawn up to merge Leicester Rugby League with the Northampton Knights and Peterborough Rugby League. The strategy was for the new merged team, the East Midlands Knights to enter the National Conference League Division 2 and then progress up to Super League. An attractive friendly fixture against Hull was also penned in for the team to get some top level experience. However, due to administrative and travel issues amongst players and staff the plans for the East Midlands Knights were shelved and local level development was seen as the best way for the development of rugby league in Leicester.
During the season, Leicester saw two of their star players, Curtis Thomas and Laurence Taylor being signed by the Super League club Sheffield Eagles.
1995/96 - the end of Winter Rugby League
The 1995-96 season would be the last that Leicester would play during the winter and the first season that Leicester would put together a junior team and make strides with junior Rugby League development within the city. Still playing at Aylestionians, through Club Coach Paul Walmsley and Club Chairman Julian Harrison, the junior development climaxed with a junior camp being held in Sheffield which was run in partnership with Sheffield Eagles and Leicester City Council. This offered the Leicester youngsters an opportunity to receive professional coaching and tuition.
1997 - the beginning of Summer Rugby League
The 1997 season was momentous in the history of Leicester Rugby League as it saw the dawn of Summer Rugby League in Leicester.
Leicester, a club with a history of initiative thinking became one of the ten founder members of the then Southern Conference League (since 1998 it has been known as the Rugby League Conference). The other founder members of the conference consisted of Bedford Swifts, Birmingham, Cambridge Eagles, Ipswich Rhinos, Kingston, North London Skolars, Oxford Cavaliers, West London and Worcester Royals.
The conference was split into two smaller conferences, East and Central. With such a move, Leicester also moved locations from Aylestonians to the Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium which housed a 3,000 seater stand.
Under the stewardship of Walmsley, Leicester won the inaugural Central Conference which saw them face the winners of the East Conference, North London Skolars in the Grand Final which was played at Staines RUFC. Unfortunately Leicester came out 32-16 defeated but the result cemented Leicester was one of competition top performers. However, Leicester’s Mike French was named Man of the Match for his performance. With the junior side, they played games against the Barnsley Vikings, Garibaldi, and Ipswich Rhinos.
1998 - the Birth of a Phoenix
1998 saw a Phoenix born. In a move by the Conference which asked clubs to brand themselves, Leicester Rugby League were rebranded Leicester Phoenix Rugby League under Walmsley.
The Phoenix started their campaign against a friendly match against the Russian Champions Strela which saw them narrowly lose at Saffron Lane. The Rugby League Conference which it was now rebranded saw 5 new teams enter the competition and unfortunately the Phoenix were unable to produce the sort of form which saw them make the Grand Final the year before.
With the junior side, the Phoenix were able to field an under-13s and an under-15s which showed the Phoenix’s commitment to development within the city.
1999
During the 1999 season, the Phoenix played in front of their biggest crowd yet. On the Super League road show, the Bradford Bulls played London Broncos at Leicester Tigers RUFC home ground of Welford Road [1]. The Phoenix were asked to play their Conference game against the Coventry Bears as a pre-game to the Super League encounter. In front of 7,000 fans, the Phoenix toppled the Bears 25-18 in what was to start a ferocious rivalry between the clubs. This season saw the Phoenix move back to Aylestonians.
Leicester 9’s
During the 90’s, Leicester played host to four 9’s tournaments. Local and National Club Sides were invited to enter the tournament from across the country by organiser Paul Walmsley. The First Tournament saw Wakefield lift the inaugural trophy in 1995, Leicester won the trophy in 1996 and 1997 and a side from Castleford winning the last tournament in 1998.
2000’s
2000 saw 24 clubs in the Rugby League Conference which were spilt into 4 regions, Leicester’s previous Chairman Julian Harrison was appointed the new Conference Administrator.
During the upcoming years, the Phoenix struggled to find a home location which would match their desire to progress forward and help to develop Rugby League within Leicester. From 2000 to 2009, the Phoenix have been based at no more than 6 locations throughout the City.
2004
Success came to the Phoenix during the 2004 Season when the Phoenix won the South Midlands Conference Title.
2006
2006 season, the Phoenix were invited to join the Midlands Premier Conference which they finished a creditable 3rd position. 2006 also saw Centre Karl Wesley represent the England Lionhearts against Serbia scoring in the 46-6 win in the Radnički Stadium, Belgrade. [2]
2007
Playing at Leicester Forests' Hinckley Road Ground. The Phoenix faced a challenging season which saw the club finish 8th in the Midlands Premier Conference.
2008
During the 2008 season, the Phoenix competed in the Midland Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. After reaching an agreement with Aylestone St. James RUFC, all of their home games where played at their Covert Lane Ground in the Scraptoft area of the city.
On the playing front, the Phoenix had a mixed playing season, the highlight being the defeat of the Bedford Tigers at home, whom, in the away fixture at the start of season gave the Phoenix their biggest defeat of the season.
The Phoenix battled to 7th spot in the Midlands Premier Conference.
Off the pitch, international honors went to Richard Knight who represented Scotland Students at the Students Rugby League World Cup in Australia and also Scotland A in the Home Nations Tournament.
The club was founded in 1986 and Leicester lifted their first silverware in the form of the Nottingham and Mansfield Amateur Rugby League Association (NAMARLA) Division Championship in the 1987/88 season
1990’s
1993/94
Leicester competed in the East Midlands Amateur League finishing a creditable 3rd. During the season Leicester played at their current home location of Aylestonians. Other successes during this season saw Leicester make it through to the Second Round of the National Cup only to lose away to Carlisle 20-10 away. Leicester also made it through to the second round of the East Midlands Cup (Stephenson Cup) losing to Doncaster 30-18.
1994/95
The 1994/95 saw talks of a National Development League which Leicester and particular Chairman Julian Harrision were at the forefront of discussions alongside the then London Broncos Development Bev Risman.
During the season, plans were also being made at the national level for the inception Super League as Europe’s top level competition and to play during the summer of 1996. With club mergers being planned throughout the country, Leicester saw this as an opportunity to bring top level rugby league to the East Midlands so the plan was drawn up to merge Leicester Rugby League with the Northampton Knights and Peterborough Rugby League. The strategy was for the new merged team, the East Midlands Knights to enter the National Conference League Division 2 and then progress up to Super League. An attractive friendly fixture against Hull was also penned in for the team to get some top level experience. However, due to administrative and travel issues amongst players and staff the plans for the East Midlands Knights were shelved and local level development was seen as the best way for the development of rugby league in Leicester.
During the season, Leicester saw two of their star players, Curtis Thomas and Laurence Taylor being signed by the Super League club Sheffield Eagles.
1995/96 - the end of Winter Rugby League
The 1995-96 season would be the last that Leicester would play during the winter and the first season that Leicester would put together a junior team and make strides with junior Rugby League development within the city. Still playing at Aylestionians, through Club Coach Paul Walmsley and Club Chairman Julian Harrison, the junior development climaxed with a junior camp being held in Sheffield which was run in partnership with Sheffield Eagles and Leicester City Council. This offered the Leicester youngsters an opportunity to receive professional coaching and tuition.
1997 - the beginning of Summer Rugby League
The 1997 season was momentous in the history of Leicester Rugby League as it saw the dawn of Summer Rugby League in Leicester.
Leicester, a club with a history of initiative thinking became one of the ten founder members of the then Southern Conference League (since 1998 it has been known as the Rugby League Conference). The other founder members of the conference consisted of Bedford Swifts, Birmingham, Cambridge Eagles, Ipswich Rhinos, Kingston, North London Skolars, Oxford Cavaliers, West London and Worcester Royals.
The conference was split into two smaller conferences, East and Central. With such a move, Leicester also moved locations from Aylestonians to the Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium which housed a 3,000 seater stand.
Under the stewardship of Walmsley, Leicester won the inaugural Central Conference which saw them face the winners of the East Conference, North London Skolars in the Grand Final which was played at Staines RUFC. Unfortunately Leicester came out 32-16 defeated but the result cemented Leicester was one of competition top performers. However, Leicester’s Mike French was named Man of the Match for his performance. With the junior side, they played games against the Barnsley Vikings, Garibaldi, and Ipswich Rhinos.
1998 - the Birth of a Phoenix
1998 saw a Phoenix born. In a move by the Conference which asked clubs to brand themselves, Leicester Rugby League were rebranded Leicester Phoenix Rugby League under Walmsley.
The Phoenix started their campaign against a friendly match against the Russian Champions Strela which saw them narrowly lose at Saffron Lane. The Rugby League Conference which it was now rebranded saw 5 new teams enter the competition and unfortunately the Phoenix were unable to produce the sort of form which saw them make the Grand Final the year before.
With the junior side, the Phoenix were able to field an under-13s and an under-15s which showed the Phoenix’s commitment to development within the city.
1999
During the 1999 season, the Phoenix played in front of their biggest crowd yet. On the Super League road show, the Bradford Bulls played London Broncos at Leicester Tigers RUFC home ground of Welford Road [1]. The Phoenix were asked to play their Conference game against the Coventry Bears as a pre-game to the Super League encounter. In front of 7,000 fans, the Phoenix toppled the Bears 25-18 in what was to start a ferocious rivalry between the clubs. This season saw the Phoenix move back to Aylestonians.
Leicester 9’s
During the 90’s, Leicester played host to four 9’s tournaments. Local and National Club Sides were invited to enter the tournament from across the country by organiser Paul Walmsley. The First Tournament saw Wakefield lift the inaugural trophy in 1995, Leicester won the trophy in 1996 and 1997 and a side from Castleford winning the last tournament in 1998.
2000’s
2000 saw 24 clubs in the Rugby League Conference which were spilt into 4 regions, Leicester’s previous Chairman Julian Harrison was appointed the new Conference Administrator.
During the upcoming years, the Phoenix struggled to find a home location which would match their desire to progress forward and help to develop Rugby League within Leicester. From 2000 to 2009, the Phoenix have been based at no more than 6 locations throughout the City.
2004
Success came to the Phoenix during the 2004 Season when the Phoenix won the South Midlands Conference Title.
2006
2006 season, the Phoenix were invited to join the Midlands Premier Conference which they finished a creditable 3rd position. 2006 also saw Centre Karl Wesley represent the England Lionhearts against Serbia scoring in the 46-6 win in the Radnički Stadium, Belgrade. [2]
2007
Playing at Leicester Forests' Hinckley Road Ground. The Phoenix faced a challenging season which saw the club finish 8th in the Midlands Premier Conference.
2008
During the 2008 season, the Phoenix competed in the Midland Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. After reaching an agreement with Aylestone St. James RUFC, all of their home games where played at their Covert Lane Ground in the Scraptoft area of the city.
On the playing front, the Phoenix had a mixed playing season, the highlight being the defeat of the Bedford Tigers at home, whom, in the away fixture at the start of season gave the Phoenix their biggest defeat of the season.
The Phoenix battled to 7th spot in the Midlands Premier Conference.
Off the pitch, international honors went to Richard Knight who represented Scotland Students at the Students Rugby League World Cup in Australia and also Scotland A in the Home Nations Tournament.
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