The rugby team was established in 1886 in the then British colony of
Griqualand West. Five years later, during the 1891
British Lions tour to South Africa, Griqualand West played the British Lions in Kimberley. Although they lost 3–0, the British presented the team with the
Currie Cup, as they thought that Griqualand West produced the best performance out of the provincial games on their tour. The Currie Cup became South Africa's domestic prize, and Griqualand West first won it in 1899. Griqualand West subsequently won the Currie Cup again in 1911. After the introduction of official annual championships in 1969, Griqualand West won the final the next season, defeating Northern Transvaal 11–9 to claim their third title. 55 years later, in 2025, Griquas won their fourth Currie Cup title. The majority of Griquas supporters hail from the
Northern Cape province of South Africa, most notably in and around Kimberley, where the team plays their home games. Their traditional rivals are , a rivalry that stems back to the earliest days of the Currie Cup, when Griqualand West were a dominant force in South African rugby. Since the 1970s, a friendly rivalry has also developed with neighbours the in what has become known as the 'central derby'. Griquas are nicknamed the "Peacock Blues".
Super Rugby In 2020, the Griquas were invited to play in the
Super Rugby Unlocked competition. A list of players who represented the side in the competition can be found
here. ==Current squad==