The club was founded in 1925 by members of the previous years Gisborne District High 1st XV who wanted to remain together playing rugby.
The first year they fielded a Junior and 3rd grade team, with the Juniors winning the competition. The following year the club fielded its first senior XV. The team colours were maroon jerseys and black shorts. Until this day the club has retained links with the High School with the headmaster being appointed as Club Patron. The club lost its senior status in 1928 but in 1931 regained it and has been so ever since.
They won their first senior title in 1937 and again in 1938, sharing the honour with the Celtic RFC. Since these days the club has won senior titles 1945, 1949, 1950, 1952,1956, 1957, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972.
In 1949 the club colours were changed to blue & white hoops which remain today. The first club rooms were built in 1949, upgraded in 1971 to incorporate 2 squash courts, all with voluntary labour.
The club has a number of All Blacks who played club rugby for the club either before becoming All Blacks or after including Richard (Tiny) White, Brian Fitzpatrick, Keith Bagley, Mick Cossey, Mark Irwin and Mike Parkinson. Other notable players include Eric Grant who toured with the 1936 NZ Universities to Japan and another member of that team, “Butch” Stacey, was to coach the club senior XV in 1938.
The club can claim to have at least 160 players who have represented the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union.