During the early years the club had three prominent players who gained international caps: Dicky Lockwood, Donald Jowett, and Willie Sutcliffe.

They joined the ranks of the semi-professionals when they became members of the Northern Union in its second season 1896–97 and played in the Yorkshire Senior Competition.

With the formation of the Northern Rugby League in 1901 Heckmondwike returned to the Yorkshire Senior Competition for the start of the 1901–02 and finished in 11th place out of 14 clubs.

The club wore black and white jerseys,[2] which were, unusually for a rugby team, in vertical stripes.

[3] The club played at Beck Lane, and originally used the Sir Robert Peel inn for facilities.