By 1881 Teesside Wanderers was formed. Middlesbrough continued to support their 2 clubs until around 1892 when Rovers lost their ground. The answer was a merger and the new “Middlesbrough Rugby Club” was officially formed.
With the club unable to break into the better fixture circle of leading Durham clubs and finding it impossible to make long trips to the East & West Riding of Yorkshire, rugby became a forgotten sport in Middlesbrough for the next 25 years.