Oadby Wyggestonian RFC was formed in 1971, following the amalgamation of Oadby RFC and the Old Wyggestonian RFC. Oadby could trace their formation back to 1888 whilst the Old Wyggs was the junior party having only been formed in 1921.

Despite being the junior party in terms of history, the Old Wyggestonian RFC had the use of their own Wigston Road ground which they leased, whilst Oadby RFC had been playing on the local authority’s Uplands Road park.

During the 1970s the club was fielding six senior teams plus an occasional colts’ team. However by 1990 reduced playing numbers forced the club to look at finding a way of making having our own ground more affordable. Various avenues were explored leading to Leicester Tigers expressing an interest in a joint arrangement. The result was ‘Oval Park’, with the Tigers taking on the main lease and them having the Wyggs as their sub-tenants. For the very first years Tigers were still an amateur club and they trained in the evenings. It was quite a novelty to see the likes of Martin Johnson and his comrades in the clubhouse bar; drinking lemonade of course! Like any marriage, our relationship with Tigers has had its ups and downs, but fortunately more up than down!

After the 1971 amalgamation, the club continued to play in the Old Wyggs’ colours of black, gold and white. The Oadby strip had been black and white. Back then all matches were ‘friendlies’ (allegedly!) and the only games that ‘mattered’ were cup matches. In 1981 the club reached their first, and for a long time only, Leicestershire cup final. Our second appearance in the final was in 2019 but the result was similar to the first. Yet again we were the losing side, albeit by a close margin.

When the leagues were first formed Oadby Wyggs found themselves on something of a downward slide, only being saved from relegation in both of the first two seasons by reorganisations of the Midlands’ structure. Riotous relegation parties had been organised and enjoyed on both occasions in advance of knowing about the restructuring. By the time we were finally relegated enthusiasm for partying had waned somewhat and we went down with barely a whimper! In 2009-10 an influx of young players coming out of the very successful junior section saw the club gain ‘League Championships’ in two consecutive years. After a few ‘nearly’ years in Midlands East 2, 2017-18 saw Oadby Wyggs win that league also.

That promotion to level 6 was always going to present major difficulties but once again Oadby Wyggs rose to the occasion and after a season of very exciting rugby the team finished in third position and were the highest placed Leicestershire club. Subsequent league reorganisations have seen Oadby Wyggs playing against a wide selection of clubs from different parts of the Midlands which has posed, and will continue to pose challenges but the team together with the whole club are looking forward meeting friends old and new.