before the 1895 schism in english rugby, william nicholl played rugby union for england, and brighouse rangers. after the schism, brighouse rangers became a founder member of the northern rugby football union (now rugby football league), and the first northern rugby football union chairman was mr. h. h. waller from the club. brighouse rangers played from 1895–96 to 1905–06 winning the yorkshire league in the 1896–97 season. although finishing last in the 14-club elite league in the 1901–02 season, the club was not relegated as the league expanded to 18 clubs. in the 1902–03 season brighouse finished 18th and was relegated. after finishing bottom of the 31-club recombined league in the 1905–06 season, the club withdrew from the northern union.