These two clubs were situated about two miles apart in the south of Leicester and decided their future would be enhanced as a joint club.
Lions have recently improved their facilities with a new club house at their Westleigh Park, Blaby headquarters.
They 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.
League switch sees Lions reach Level Three
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 – which suited them well.
They lost just one game and won the league by a margin of 18 points.
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.
Our clubs met for the first time in October 2023, Lions victorious 26-24 despite Ben Atkins, Zach Clow, Max Hayman and Jak Rossiter touching down.
Fraser Honey slotted three conversions, but his last-gasp drop-goal attempt drifted wide as the hosts held on.
Aston Gradwick-Light, Geordie Irvine, Nick Cairns and Dan Lewis were the home try-scorers, the latter converting all four.
Rams improve after opening loss
Rams had more success in the return fixture at Old Bath Road, sealing a 33-12 success on the back of tries from Axel Kalling-Smith, Charlie Robson, Hayman, Atkins and Mike Hoyt.
Honey added four conversions, while Lions’ points came from a Malelili Salala brace and the boot of Lewis.
The Berkshire boys completed a double last term, winning their Centenary game 54-29 at OBR.
Tom Vooght, Hayman, Ryan Lomas, Nile Dacres, Tomek Pozniak, Kalling-Smith and Clow, with a double, crossed for Rams as Honey landed seven kicks.
Luke Bouchier opened Leicester’s account with a penalty and added a conversion after Aaron Pope went over.
George Pearson, Pope and Isaac Thompson sealed a bonus-point for the Midlanders, Tom Threlfall with two conversions.
A come-from-behind 36-19 away triumph then came thanks to tries from Jasper Spandler, Clow, Tom Vooght, Oli Rhoads and Jake Murray, plus four Honey conversions and a penalty.
Toby Cousins and Arthur Allen had earlier given Lions a 12-0 lead, Bouchier with a conversion, but a Liam Burrows seven-pointer were their only points after the break.
Rams extended their head-to-head winning run to four matches with a 38-24 victory last November.
Rhoads opened the scoring, Mike Cooke with the extras, before the hosts levelled through Bronson Mellowes and Bouchier.
Hayman rode a maul over before Leicester landed a penalty for 12-10.
Cooke slotted after Hayman doubled up before the break, and a penalty try plus two more from the skipper and a conversion made it 38-10.
Lions had the final word with Jake Sterland and Joe Plummer crossing, but it was too little, too late despite Bouchier knocking over two more kicks.
