The Rugby Lions
Sports Injuries
“My brother and I started at Barkers Butts and
were there for several seasons; my brother
was then offered a directorship at Rugby Lions
by his old military friend, Mr David Owen MBE
DL and I followed my brother.
Me and my brother were footballers, I was
coaching overseas in Turkey for a team called
Kayserispor in the Turkish first division. On
returning to England I was disenchanted
with football owing to obscene chanting and
hooliganism so followed my brother into the
rugby world where I am sponsorship chairman
of Rugby Lions, trying to get as much income
as I can for the club with one of them being free
physiotherapy treatment at Suffolk Clinic, for
all registered players. We also have offers for
football and rugby teams to receive half price
treatments. Suffolk clinic has been around for
35 years and offer many treatments including
sports therapy, acupuncture, reiki and many
more.”
At the start of the 2015-16 season
things were looking good for the Rugby
Lions and all set up for a challenge to
Midlands Three, but in August 2015
it all came to an abrupt halt. The Lions
Head Coach Rob Walton died in a tragic
accident whilst on holiday abroad. This
badly affected the Club and the players
as Rob had been instrumental in the
Clubs rise from the ashes and in the
rebuilding of the team.
After a nonexistent preseason ‘warm
up’, the Lions then lost the first two
games of the new season and their climb
up the leagues appeared over. However,
the commitment and spirit of the players
that had been established by Rob saw the
team steadily regain their form, playing
for each other and despite the tragic early
setback saw the Lions steadily winning
games and progressing up the league.
The conclusion of that season came
down to the very last game which saw
the Lions secure a well earned victory by
beating the team they had lost to in the
first game of the season. For the first time
in the year the Rugby Lions were top of
League and subsequently gained their
third successive promotion.
The Rugby Lions RFC continued to
rebuild and season 2016-17 saw the Club
gain their fourth promotion in a row,
winning Midlands 2 West (South). The
Club now look forward to the challenge
Occupational Injuries
We are specialists in
Sports Therapy Sports Massage Physiotherapy
Hopi Ear Acupuncture Reiki
Chiropractic Reflexology Homeopathy
Tel: 02476 715535
www.suffolkclinic.co.uk
[email protected]
Suffolk Clinic
8 Spencer Road, Coventry,
West Midlands, CV5 6PA
of Midlands 1 Rugby this season and to
continue their fight back from the abyss.
The Rugby Lions are not however
just about the Senior Teams. During the
past five years the Club has built a solid
Minis & Juniors set up and organises a
very successful Tournament at the start
of October. The Youth section is very
important to the Lions as it is the future
of the Club and for the first time in many
years this season the Club will be putting
out a Colts Team.
The Club also has a Ladies XV, the
Rugby Lionesses. They were formed
in 2010 by a group of local ladies who
wanted to further develop their fitness
and social network through the game of
rugby. The Lionesses survived the Club
break up in 2012 and have made great
progress and now play their rugby in
National Challenge (Midland) 1.
The Rugby Lions have a strong
supporter base which has seen us
through the ‘difficult’ years and during
which has established a great Club
spirit. The Club’s ambitions for the next
few years are to consolidate the League
position, to continue to build a strong
team player ethos, to develop the Juniors
and Ladies teams, establish a solid
financial structure and to enjoy the ride.
Article provided by Club Secretary
Douglas Hutchinson
www.rugbyclubmag.com
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