Founded in 1904–05, Gordonians RFC was originally a club exclusively for the former pupils of Robert Gordon's College.

Later caps were won by Donald MacDonald, Ron Glasgow, and Ian McCrae, further increasing the reputation of the club.

Throughout the late 1950s and the 1960s, Gordonians saw improvement in its fixture list and contributed actively in the development of the sport in the North East of Scotland.

Having established themselves as a prominent team in the 1960s, Gordonians underwent many changes in the 1970s with the introduction in 1973 of the Scottish National Leagues.

In the 1974–75 season the club ceased to be exclusively for the former pupils of Robert Gordon's College; allowing anyone to join for the first time.

The club then began to introduce a more committed approach to training and retained a consistent pool of players.

The long-awaited arrival of Hawick at Seafield for the club's first ever Division I match was greeted by a crowd of approximately 1500 spectators.

This season saw Rugby Union turn professional, a controversial move that was resisted by Gordonians, who retain their amateur status to this day.

They would miss out on promotion for the following season, which, combined with the changing landscape of Scottish rugby, left them struggling to attract players.

The decision not to turn professional, together with a dwindling number of players coming from Robert Gordon's College led to the club struggling to maintain an identity and a reliable team.