For the first 15 years of their existence, they were the premier side in the city until the formation of the Bristol club.
In 1881-2 they played in one of the first-ever floodlit games away to Weston and created history 50 years later by flying to an away match, using seven biplanes to face Glamorgan Wanderers.
Clifton moved to their present ground at Cribbs Causeway in 1976-7 after 50 years at Eastfield Road, Westbury-on-Trym.
History-makers and then stability
When league rugby was introduced in 1987, they became the first club to achieve National League status from a divisional one.
Their first three seasons in Division Three saw them lose out narrowly twice on promotion.
A re-organisation of the leagues resulted in relegation, but they quickly bounced back only to return immediately to Division Four.
However, except for a couple of short spells in South West One, the Bristol men have maintained National League status and secured promotion to Level Three by winning Two West last term.
A long history with Rams
Rams have won seven of their 11 league games against Clifton, though lost their first clash 40-24 at home in November 2008, Seb Reynolds with a brace as Spike Chandler and Jez Flynn also touched down.
They gained revenge in Bristol with a 32-29 triumph, Robbie Stapley at the double as Chris Betts and Reynolds went over, Chandler adding 12 points with the boot.
The clubs next locked horns in 2015, Clifton crushing Rams 41-7 in National Two South with Jack Steadman grabbing the consolation before a revenge 20-11 win saw Stapley and Samir Kharbouch over the line, Chandler adding two conversions and two penalties.
Sean McDonnell-Roberts crossed in a 25-19 reverse on the road the following season, but again Rams hit back, a 41-26 home success aided by a penalty try and further scores from James Baker, Stapley, Miles Lloyd, Craig Nightingale and Jak Rossiter.
The Berkshire men then completed a double with a 43-16 home win in the 2017/18 campaign – Tom Vooght (two), Jordan Souter, Ollie Cole, Josh Sunley, Baker and a penalty try doing the damage – along with a 29-19 away success.
Jamar Richardson, Josh Collis and Ellis Jones touched down with a penalty try sealing the bonus-point.
Berkshire men reach Level Three at Station Road
And in the title-winning campaign of 2018/19 Rams won the home leg 26-19 – Steadman, Ben Henderson, Louis Wolf and Baker dotting down – before they sealed the title at Station Road.
Back in October Rams secured a 21-14 away victory, Morgan MacRae with a brace before Luke Graham’s late winner, Mike Cooke landing three conversions to seal the deal.
Clifton earlier levelled from 14-0 down thanks to tries from Ollie Harris and Tom Hatch, plus two Tom Quinlan kicks.
And in February the two sides played out a thriller with Rams winning 45-25 at Old Bath Road.
Rams moved 12-0 up early with Zach Clow and Axel Kalling-Smith crossing the whitewash, Cooke adding to the former’s effort.
Clifton fly-half James McKinney converted an Ollie Stirling try before Max Hayman mauled over for the hosts.
A McKinney penalty kept the Bristolians close, but Hayman’s second and Cooke’s boot made it 24-10 at the break.
The visitors roared out of the blocks after the break, however.
Zak Hamid and Harry Johnson both went over, McKinney with a conversion and penalty to give them a one-point lead at the start of the final quarter.
Yet Rams got their act together, Hayman completing a hat-trick before Harry Stone touched down and Clow doubled up.
Three more Cooke conversions completed the scoring and ensured victory for the Berkshire boys.
Entry and parking for Saturday’s game is free, with food and drink on sale. Kick-off is at 3pm.
