The 1st XV are headed to Leicester on Saturday to take on the newly-promoted Lions for the first time.
The 1st XV are coming off the back of last week’s impressive 48-22 win over Bishop’s Stortford. The players and coaching staff will be hoping for a similar performance this weekend against a struggling Leicester Lions.
Saturday’s matchup will be the first ever meeting between the two sides as the Lions have spent the last 17 seasons in the fourth tier of English rugby (a majority of that being in League Two North) since being promoted in 2004/05. As for this season, they currently sit in 13th, having won just twice so far this year with their first win coming on the opening day of the season against a Sale side that currently occupies last place in the table. Interestingly however, their second win came in a 26-24 bonus point victory over Rams as the Lions became to first side this season to upset the previously unbeaten league leaders. In addition to this, their last two losses (away at Birmingham Moseley and Sedgley Park) have both been decided by a single score. This would suggest that the Midlands outfit have hit some form and seem to have settled into life in National One after their first ever promotion to the third tier last season.
The 1st XV will have to be locked in if they are to get the win against a side that now feels confident they can win against anyone in the league.