Vikings Rugby Club was inaugurated at a Special General Meeting held at the Ironworkers Club in upper Crown St. in 1958. Vikings celebrated their Fiftieth Anniversary in 2007 as the oldest Rugby Club in the I.D.R.U. and is still going strong in 2010.

The leading light behind its formation was a local primary teacher, Bill Burrows, a highly regarded centre, who had previously played with the Wollongong Surf Club Rugby Team. Vikings Rugby Club attracted many of its members from Wollongong Surf Club in its formative years and continues to do so. Some who transferred to Vikings after the Wollongong Surf Club team was disbanded in 1961 included John Martin, Ted Tobin, Terry Tobin, Brian Tobin, Bruce Bowman, John Lobson, Jim Humphries, Denis Taylor, Martin Barnes and others. Vikings also attracted players from The Steelworks Rugby Club, which had recently disbanded. In particular Dick Hardy, a talented full back, who was an important driving force in Vikings early years.

The Club has a proud record of achievement in Illawarra Rugby, having to date won 12 Club Championships, 11 First Grade Premierships, 11 Second Grade Premierships, 6 Third Grade Premierships, 17 Junior Age Premierships and one Womens' Premiership in the Sydney Competition.

In its early years Vikings Home Ground was Figtree Oval, but in 1970 the Club entered into a licence agreement with Wollongong City Council to take over an area of wasteland on the corner of Swan and Corrimal Streets. Under the guidance of Terry George, the Club developed its own Rugby Field and Club Rooms, opening Stage One in 1977 and Stage Two in 1984. Improvements have continued to be made, the latest being an underground watering system.

Vikings who have gone on to play Rugby at high representative levels include, John Coolican and Mark McInnes (Wallabies), Peter Palmer (Australia A), Andrew Barrett (Australian Schoolboys), Warwick Giddey, (Australian Schoolboys), Joel Diggins (England Schoolboys) and Dave Hanley (Australian U-16's).

Vikings have fostered a fine family tradition, with many second generation Vikings being part of the Club over many years, with third generation Vikings now appearing in our Junior ranks.

Vikings Rugby Club also has an extensive "Old Boys'" network, which goes by the name of The Viking Longhorns. Although The Longhorns played occasionally prior to the Nineties, their formal inception was in 1991. They now have over 200 members, and make up an important support group for the Rugby Club.