Life comes full circle for Alfie
Alfie Leighton-Lambert ran out for his 1st XV league debut holding a young mascot’s hand and remembering being a first team mascot himself week in, week out when playing age grade rugby at the club.
Alfie, aged 17, was making his first XV debut for Rugby Lions in their 49-40 victory over Northampton Men’s Own RFC. He joined Rugby Lions aged seven and has played for them ever since.
His father, Jamie Lambert, said: “Alfie was always football mad as a youngster, but we took him down to watch a preseason game at Rugby Lions and he fell in love with the sport. He asked to sign up straight away. He started the next day and has never looked back!”
After playing through the minis, Alfie was keen to continue supporting the senior team and became touch judge for the 1st XV as he hit his junior years before making his senior debut at the end of last season. He played in the Warwickshire Vase final where Rugby Lions took home the silverware with a 38-24 victory over Stoke Old Boys RFC.
As well as inspiring the next generation on the pitch, Alfie works alongside his dad, who is the chair of the minis and juniors, and coaches youngsters on Sunday mornings. Rugby is a real family affair, with Alfie’s mum Sarah playing for the ladies’ team and sister Jessica for the U16s, having been recently selected for Warwickshire’s developing player pathway.
Jamie Lambert said: “We all love rugby in our family. But what got us involved with the club is the atmosphere at Rugby Lions. Everyone is made to feel very welcome, and the club feels like one club, with senior players getting involved with minis and juniors on Saturdays and Sundays. That’s the ethos that keeps us coming back week on week.”
And it’s clear that just as he was inspired by the first team players, Alfie will now inspire the young mascots who look up to the first team role models.
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