[1][2] It was founded in 1868 by members of North of Ireland Cricket Club.

They also played several seasons in the AIB League before merging with Collegians in 1999 to form Belfast Harlequins.

[4] The club left its historic home on the Ormeau Road (one of the earliest international rugby venues in Ireland[5]) after a series of sectarian arson attacks, including the burning of its pavilion.

The club, with a mainly Protestant membership, was perceived as being "isolated in a zone of working-class nationalism".

The following NIFC players also represented the British and Irish Lions.