In 1928 a new club called the Aberdeen Engineers RFC was formed by Tom Richardson a surveyor for Lloyds Register and Ernest W.H.Knight a naval architect who worked for Hall Russell shipyards in Aberdeen and later became their general manager and Wanderers longest serving President (22 seasons).

The inaugural meeting for the formation of the club was held at the Douglas Hotel on the 13th of January 1928. Part of the founding members and a player in the first team in the early years was the famous Aberdonian actor Andrew Cruickshank.

The first honorary president was Lord Provost Sir Andrew Lewis of the John Lewis Shipbuilding family who held the honorary role for approximately 20 years. The first active president was Major McPhail early in 1928 and then Tom Richardson took over the role for the 1928-29 first formal season in the leagues. The club was open to players who worked for engineering companies in Aberdeen at the time.

The first competitive match was played against Aberdeenshire RFC at Rubislaw on the 25th of February 1928 and was captained by J.Martin.

Groats Road near to Hazlehead Park has been the home ground of the club since 1928. The first match was played there on the 29th of September 1928 against Gordonians RFC and was captained by George McAra.

Change of name and mergers

The club later changed its name to Aberdeen Wanderers in 1934. At that time Wanderers was one of the first teams to be open, as the city clubs were closed with membership only open to former pupils of a school or University.

In 1948 a separate club Aberdeen Centralians RFC, was formed for former pupils of Aberdeen Central School, which later became Aberdeen Academy (now Hazlehead Academy). Consequently, the club changed its name to Aberdeen Academicals RFC.

In 1971 Wanderers and Academicals merged to form Aberdeen Wanderers Academicals RFC. In 1990 the club merged with local side Granite City RFC (who were formed in 1975), with the club reverting to its former name of Aberdeen Wanderers RFC.

Representative and international players

Over the years the club has played at various levels within and before Scotland’s National league structure. They have had players represent the North of Scotland, Caledonia (previously North & Midlands), and North District.

Aberdeen Wanderers players who played representative rugby are:
• Francis Pinquet - North v South Africa 1951
• Peter J.Younie - District Championship 50’s
• Gordon R.Ferries - North v Midlands 1951
• Dr Neville Z. Sacks - North v All Blacks 1953
• G.Aitken
• Henry Dickson
• Mike Wolfe-Murray
• Alan Alexander “Sandy” Dinnie
• Jackie Wright
• Ken McLean
• John Cassells
• Bob Annand

Aberdeen Academicals players who have played for North or North & Midlands are:
• Gordon Jessamine
• Jack Kilman
• Donald Halkerston
• Tom Morrice

The Youth Section was started in the 1990 – 1991 season and has constantly grown over the years to such a level where Aberdeen Wanderers now field teams at all age levels. At youth level a number of players have previously been selected for North, Caledonia District and Scotland age groups.

Those from the youth system representing Scotland are as follows:
• Jason P. R. White - Scotland full international (77 caps – 19 as captain)
• George Hunter - Scotland Club XV, Scotland U20s, U18s and U17s including being capped by the Bahamas in 2016 (through ancestry line)
• Ashleah McCulloch - Scotland 7’s and Scotland U20s
• Matthew Herbert - Scotland Under 18s Development Squad 2024

Hamilton Burr who came through the youth system has played for Glasgow Warriors and Waikato Rugby in New Zealand. He has also played for the Waikato Chiefs.

The most notable product of the youth system is Jason P.R. White who went on to play for Watsonians, Caledonia Reds, Sale Sharks, Clermont and Scotland. He was also part of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005. Aberdeen Wanderers is recognised as a Lions Origin club in recognition.
The Aberdeen Wanderers club house is named the Jason White Pavilion in recognition of his skills and sportsmanship.

Aberdeen Wanderers is an open and friendly club which includes seniors, youth and veterans rugby. It continues to extol the virtues of team ethos and friendship of the game of rugby football.