In 2001 a group of men came together with the goal to bring gay rugby to the Bayou City. Together they were able to start the Houston Roughnecks RFC. 

In 2002 the team started to compete. They played friendlies against teams like Galveston and played in the Texas Pride Cup against the other gay teams in Texas, Dallas Diablos and Austin Lonestar, winning the tournament in 2002-2004.

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In 2003 the Roughnecks joined Texas Rugby Union and was playing regular rugby. In that season the Roughnecks earned their first league win against          2-time Div 3 champs, Victoria.