After a public meeting in the Congregational Church Hall in Tillicoultry on Monday 7 December 1970, Hillfoots Rugby Football Club was founded. The club's first game was against an
Alloa RFC 4th XV in the public park on 6 March 1971. Hillfoots were victorious by 18 points to 11. After a season of non-league friendly fixtures in 1971-72, the club entered the Midlands District League the following season. Promotion to National League Division VII was achieved in 1975, to Division VI in 1982 and to Division V in 1984 where the club remained for over a decade. Three of its most famous players John Manson, Danny Herrington and Bob Cairney formed a front row in the 1990s called the 'Tillicoultry Troglodytes'. All three went on to play for Dundee HSFP. The club's most sustained period of success began in 2000 when Sandy Penman and Brian Ireland, as captain and player-coach, led the club to successive promotions to National League Division I, then the third tier of Scottish club rugby. An unsuccessful and short-lived merger with
Alloa RFC coincided with a slide back down the divisions as the core of a very successful team began to retire. By 2010, due to relegations and league reconstruction, the club found itself back in the regional divisions. The club was awarded the
Scottish Rugby Union's club of the month award in October 2011. Since the early 2010s, most seasons have been spent in Caledonia Division 1, with brief spells one level lower. The club was promoted to Caledonia Division 1 for season 2025-26, finishing third in the ten team division - their highest placing since 2011-12. On 15 February 2025, Hillfoots defeated Alloa in the final of the Caledonia Midlands Bowl. The game, dubbed 'El Clacksico' was played at Tilly Park. The final score was 24-17. Hillfoots' try scorers were Danny Cockroft and Duncan Arthur. Man of the match Aidan Kerr contributed a drop goal, a penalty and a conversion and Andy Fraser scored two penalties. As part of the club's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021, a history of the club was published and made available for sale. The book, entitled 'Fifty Years Together - An Incomplete History of Hillfoots RFC', was authored by Gerry Docherty with assistance from Peter Norman, Alistair Spowage and Gavin Spowage. The club started a women's team in September 2023, nicknamed the Vixens. After a successful first season of friendly fixtures, the Vixens were accepted into the national league set-up and played in Caledonia Midlands/East League 2 in 2024-25, finishing in mid-table. The following season they finished third in the same division. ==Notable former players==