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 enter National leagues
When league rugby was introduced in 1987, they became the first club to achieve national league status from a divisional league.
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, finishing in 12th spot the last two seasons.
Rams narrowly lead head-to-head
Rams have won six of their 10 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 went over 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.
And in the championship-winning year 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.
A 45-21 triumph saw Rossiter at the double as Henderson, Andrew Denham, McDonnell-Roberts, Nightingale and Jamie Guttridge crossed, Alex Seers adding five conversions.
