MADRID LIONS
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

The Madrid Lions Rugby Football Club was founded in September 1997, inspired, as the jersey suggests, by the hugely successful British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa of that summer and its popularity has amply fulfilled the hopes and expectations of principal founders Charlie Humphrey and Henry Macdonald.  As a forum for likeminded enthusiasts who want to be involved with social rugby in all its aspects and enjoy the camaraderie that is a hallmark of the game, the club is unique on the Madrid sports scene.

The success of the Lions has revealed a previously unfulfilled demand in Madrid for a club of this type.  To date there have been over 800 playing and social members on the Lions’ books, and although the nature of the club is such that there is a fairly rapid turnover of players who are in Madrid for limited periods only, there is a strong and ever growing backbone of permanent members.

The Lions play only friendly matches and are affiliated to the Comunidad de Madrid’s sports section and to the Madrid Rugby Union (Federacion de Rugby de Madrid). While British expatriates were originally in the vast majority, the membership now spans British, Irish, French, Spanish, American and a large mix of other nationalities; indeed it is an objective to maintain an international flavour as a distinguishing mark of the club.  The club has fielded as many as 14 nationalities in the same match.  Matches are played on a variety of good quality hired pitches in and around Madrid, usually Home Games are at the all-weather XV Hortaleza pitch; the club also has an annual tour and hosts visiting teams from abroad regularly and often takes part in end–of-season 7-a-side tournaments.

Some of the club’s regular activities are a weekly training session and a gathering every Thursday night at our pub clubhouse The Beer Temple, where the big rugby games on satellite TV can always be viewed.

The Madrid Lions R.F.C. welcome playing and social members of all ages and playing abilities, offering fun and enjoyment on and off the field in the true Corinthian spirit.  As an added bonus, there are also several lady social members, who considerably enhance club events with their presence!