In the past they were known as the Gisborne East Coast Lions.
The Gisborne and East Coast region has not been a strong rugby league area and as a result the team has not been very strong at a national level.
[1] The team did not compete in the Lion Red Cup, with the region being represented by the Hawke's Bay Unicorns.
In 2007 Gisborne Tairawhiti won the Rugby League Cup, eventually losing the challenge trophy to the Hawke's Bay 58-6 on 15 September 2007.
[3] Currently the region is represented in the National Zonal Competition by the Waicoa Bay Stallions.