Under the captaincy of Alfred Parrott, a Bedford Modern School master, the new club made an auspicious start, losing only once in its first season (to Leicester) and again only once in its second (to a composite London XV).

The early successes, however, paled before the achievements of 1893–94, when the club's reputation persuaded opponents of the stature of Stade Francais, from Paris, and the Barbarians to make the journey over.

These two distinguished teams suffered the fate of all other visitors to the club's ground in that marvelous season, defeated by scores of 22–0 and 7–3 respectively in front of huge crowds.

Indeed, the club would complete its normal programme unbeaten, only to lose when somewhat understrength, in an extra match arranged as an Easter Monday attraction at Coventry (0–12).

The match itself was a great attraction with the town's schools and factories closing for the half day to enable people to attend.

In the seasons immediately preceding World War I the fixture list grew stronger, and the club lost only one game in 1913–14.

Even today some older supporters consider this the club's best ever period - practically every member of the team in 1938–39 was very close to international honours.

Probably, the Blues finest hour was in 1975 when Bedford, captained by Budge Rogers beat Rosslyn Park in the final of the Knock Out Cup at Twickenham 28–12.

Frank Warren (the boxing promoter) and Sports Network putting in a big investment to secure quality players, many of whom were internationally famous, while others were young but promising.

In April 1999 Sports Network sold the club to Jefferson Lloyd International but this was a financial disaster resulting in Bedford losing further staff.

Mike Rayer, an ex-player of the club and Cardiff RFC, has introduced a free-flowing style which saw Bedford rise to 2nd in the league in 2006, only held back by the dominance of Harlequins, who had been demoted from the Premiership the year before.

Over the following three seasons the Bedford Blues successfully set up and run three separate age group teams; U13s, U15s & U18s.

With numbers across all three age groups rapidly growing, a realisation that there was no clear pathway for the girls to follow locally in Women's rugby was recognised.

On Sunday 10 October 2021, Emma Graham made history by being the first player to score points for the Bedford Blues Women Rugby Union Team during their first match against Shelford Nomads, played at Goldington Rd (with the Blues Women winning 31–0) The 2022–23 season saw the Bedford Blues Women competing in NC2 Midlands (Central), coached by Peter Frost and Daryl Veenendaal and captained by Emma Graham, they played 4 games at Goldington Road, and ended their first season in the new league in 4th place.

The kit is sponsored by three companies; The front of the team shirt by Blue Chip, the sleeves by Wells Bombardier and the back by Lifesure insurance.

The team wear a unique Kooga pink strip for the game with the playing shirts auctioned giving proceeds to Breast Cancer Care.

From 2012 to April 2023 it was played alternately at Goldington Road and the Northampton Saints ground at Franklin's Gardens, with the host club facing the British Army team.