Welcome to the Marist Brother's Old Boys Rugby Football Club [Auckland] Inc. Website.
The Marist Brother's Old Boys Rugby Football Club [Auckland] Inc., founded in 1908, is an important member of the Auckland Rugby Football Union.
The Marist Club had been based at Liston Park in Auckland suburb of Ellerslie from 1966 to 2011 where there was a permanent base established for the Club that followed numerous moves around Auckland in the Club's formative days. However, in 2011, the Marist Brother's Old Boys Rugby Football Club formally merged with the Tamaki Rugby Football Club, Liston Park was sold to the Auckland City Council to be retained as sports fields, and the newly merged Club has now transfered their permanent base to the former Tamaki RFC's Facilities at the Wellington War Memorial Park at Point England in Auckland. This new home of Marist Rugby is a multi-sports ground with at least room for six rugby fields that are tendered by the Auckland City Council with an associated Clubhouse that is operated by the Marist Club.
This Marist Club has always been at the forefront of Auckland Rugby - indeed New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby for that matter. This has been largely through the outstanding efforts of its playing members, many of whom have progressed through to the club from local colleges.
Twenty Nine [29] male players have gone on to represent their country, with the Club proudly able to boast that it has had at least one Club Member play for the "All Blacks" in each of the last 26 years with Isiaia Toeava being our current "All Black".
With the advent of professional rugby, the Club has also been able to contribute enormously to this modern era, with the likes of Zinzan Brooke, Robin Brooke, Kevin Nepia, Dylan Mika, Pat Lam, Waisake Sotutu, Steve Lancaster, John Akurangi, Xavier Rush, Steve Devine, Doug Howlett and Justin Collins being involved at Super 10 and/or Super 12 and/or Super 14 [and invirtably the future Super 15] levels for various franchises. Currently, Kurtis Haiu, Isaia Toeava, and Peter Saili represent the club in the professional ranks, with Pat Lam and Mike Casey now professional coaches at "Super 15" level with the "Blues".
The Club has enjoyed numerous successes including nine [9] "Gallaher Shield" Championship victories and several Auckland Rugby's "Silver Football" awards [the most successful overall Club in Auckland Trophy], which are the symbols of Auckland Club Rugby's supremacy.
In recent years, the Club has also performed with distinction in Women's Rugby, having had twenty eight [28] players selected for the National side, more commonly known as the "Black Ferns". As well, former Marist Coach Darryl Suasua along with Michael Casey as a Technical Adviser looked after the 2006 World Champion "Black Ferns". Former Premier Team Coach Brian Evans took over as the "Black Ferns" Coach in July 2009 and he was the Coach that was part of the enormously successful 2010 "Black Ferns" that defended their title to become the "2010 World Cup Champions".
In addition, the Marist Women's team has won the "ARFU Championship" on six [6] occasions including winning the 2010 Club rugby Competition.
NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CLUB
New Zealand National Men's Representatives - Members of the "All Blacks":
"AB Number" recorded in the brackets
Albert J. "Doolen" DOWNING [176],
Richard J. "Jock" MacKENZIE [179],
James R. "Buster" BARRETT [191],
Jack G. O'BRIEN [210],
William A. "Bill" WRIGHT [328],
Swinbourne W. "Swin" HADLEY [330],
William E. "Bill" HADLEY [400],
Maurice J. "Morrie" McHUGH [458],
Patrick J. B. "Pat" CROWLEY [487],
Keith R. DAVIS [546],
Jack R. SKEEN [547],
Terrence R. "Terry" LINEEN [581],
Steven R. "Steve" NESBIT [615],
Desmond M. "Des" CONNOR [617],
Paul F. LITTLE [622],
John J. "JK" KIRWAN [854],
Gregory J. L. "Greg" COOPER [869],
Terrence J. "Terry" WRIGHT [875],
Zinzan V. BROOKE [883],
Bernard J. "Bernie" McCAHILL [884],
Robin M. BROOKE [924],
Patrick R. "Pat" LAM [928],
Shane P. HOWARTH [939],
Xavier J. RUSH [978],
Dylan G. MIKA [982],
Douglas C. "Doug" HOWLETT [992],
Stephen J. "Steve" DEVINE [1018],
Saimone TAUMOEPEAU [1045], and
Isaia "Ice" TOEAVA [1064].
New Zealand National Women's Representatives - Members of the "Black Ferns":
Davida White, Regina Scheck, Liza Mihinui, Monique Hirovanaa, Shannon Andrew, Nora Sua, Bella Tahu, Suzy Shortland, Dianne Kahura, Brigitta Lotu-i'iga, Tammi Wilson, Adrienne Lili'i, Victoria Heighway, Annaleah Rush, Tala Mulipola, Fiao'o Faamausili, Helen Va'aga, Hannah Myers, Vaniya Lavea, Justine Lavea, Aroha Moore, Melodie Ngatai, Teresa Te Tamaki, Victoria Grant, Rachel Makata, Waimania Teddy, Karina Penetito, Huriana Manuel, and Dianne Maliukaetau.
New Zealand National Age Group Representatives - Members of the "Junior All Blacks" and/or "NZ Colts":
Joe Borich, Paul Tolich, A Craig, John Kirwan, Glenn McGahan, Bernie McCahill, Marty Brooke, Zinzan Brooke, John Schuster, Robin Brooke, Craig Innes, Pat Lam, Stephen Lancaster, Xavier Rush, Patrick Petelo, Quintin Sanft, Doug Howlett, Milton Ngauamo, James Somerset, Isaia Toeava, and Peter Saili.
CLUB TEAMS
Marist teams are represented in each of the following grades:
Premiers
This is our top team, showcasing the very best of the Club's talent, including Players, Coaches, Managers and Administrators. Marist has always been one of Auckland's top Premier Division teams.
Premier Reserves
The Club takes pride in its ability to demonstrate "depth" in its Senior Men's Ranks. This is typified by the continued success of our senior side [Second XV] both on and off the field. Championship wins, together with tremendous team spirit, have been the hallmark of this side over a number of years.
Under 21
The grade that grooms our "stars of the future". The Club always aims to be competitive in this grade, with strong results having been achieved over past years. We will continue to place significant emphasis on this grade to ensure ongoing success.
Under 19
The starting grade for many players and one that results in a lively competition. A number of "future stars" come out of this grade, as their physical and sporting attributes develop.
Presidents
The grade in which our past "legends" reunite every Saturday to display their skills and appetite for the game. At the same time, it should be said there sometimes appears to be more energy exerted at the bar after the game than there is on the field!
Under 85kg
This is the largest grade in Auckland [in terms of players]. The category captures those with identified talent, but who may not have the required "bulk" for the senior grades. As a result, it is a very competitive grade, which always produces top rugby.
Women
Now well and truly established as a sport for both men and women, Rugby is being played by an increasing number of women at an excellent standard. Marist has enjoyed unparalleled success in this grade, with no fewer than nine [9] of our players involved in the "2003 Women's Rugby World Cup" victory and a further five [5] players in the "2007 Women's Rugby World Cup" victory.
Junior grade (54 teams)
Junior grade players range from those who are totally new to the game to those who are already showing a level of skill and competitiveness. It is also an excellent grade for proud parents to be involved in, as Coaches and/or as Observers. This is a crucial springboard for the future of the game. The Marist Eastern adjunct was formed in 2009 and it is based in the Botany/Flat Bush area where it is experiencing a huge growth in player numbers.
Netball
A welcomed addition to the Marist Club's playing register is this sport where a number of teams play each weekend throughout the season and this group has become an integral part of the Club's "on and off field" activities catering for the serious through to the not so serious player.
OBJECTIVES
• Continue to foster rugby among people of all ages, and consolidate our position as one of New Zealand's premier rugby clubs.
• Move rugby to the next level of financial independence, maximizing participation, involvement and desirability for players, members and the local community.
• Create two full-time staff positions to handle the administrative and rugby demands of the Club's members.
• Bring coaches of the best quality into our infrastructure to enable players' abilities to be fully realized.
• Encourage our broad Old Boys network to assist in performing management and mentoring roles.
• Provide independent management advice to players who are looking to lengthen their professional playing careers and maximize their earning capacities.
• Strengthen our future role in Catholic Secondary Schools in the wider Auckland area, and expand further into non-traditional schools.
• Enhance our partnerships with the different Pacific Island and Maori communities by utilizing our links through past players with particular emphasis on embracing cultural matters. Efforts will be made to bring members of these communities into management and office-bearing roles.
• Win championships.
WHY SUPPORT AUCKLAND MARIST BROTHER'S OLD BOYS?
Rugby is the nation's undisputed number one sport and has become part of the fabric of our country.
Auckland Brother's Old Boys Marist is a small, but crucial part of that enterprise.
With your support, you will provide to the club's members and players the following positive ingredients:
• Enjoyment of the game.
• New friendships.
• Self esteem and self confidence.
• Better attitudes towards fitness and health.
• Discipline and fair play.
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The Club always welcomes new players and coaches to its ranks.
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If you are intending to visit from overseas to gain further rugby playing experience or even transferring to Auckland from within New Zealand we will always make you welcome.
Just make contact with us through the CONTACT US section of the website.
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Coming to Auckland for Rugby World Cup 2011?
Let us entertain you at our clubrooms.
We will help you with your accommodation requirements in private homes as well as arrange local excursions for you.
Again just make contact with us through the CONTACT US section of our Website.
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Why it is Important for Marist to Foster Grassroots Rugby in Auckland and around New Zealand!
"The importance of supporting grass roots rugby in a country like New Zealand just cannot be overstated. Sponsorship provides the opportunity to assist in nurturing rugby talent on a national basis. The top end of the game is always well supported, but we still have to rely on the young talent coming through. Rugby is undeniably one of the most popular sports in New Zealand, but we need to ensure we don't end up just watching the game rather than playing it. The grass roots are vital to the future of this game, and we need to remember it's at this level where our future champions are identified and developed."
All Black Legend - Sir Colin E. "Pinetree" Meads
"I am sometimes disappointed to see how neglected sport has become and how unhealthy some of our children are. Anything that motivates young people to be active is a good thing and grass roots rugby certainly contributes to a number of positive outcomes in that sense. As the entertainment choices for our kids grow, rugby provides a great alternative to play stations, computers, television, text messaging, shopping malls and other more ominous pastimes. It is also very important by helping develop those who may not have had the best of breaks in life. Rugby not only gives them something to work at, but also helps with fitness, being part of a team and learning leadership skills."
Legendary All Black's Captain and Coach - Sir Brian J. "BJ" Lochore
BE PART OF A WINNING TEAM AND A WINNING ENVIRONMENT AT AUCKLAND MARIST FOR 2010 AS WELL AS IN THE YEARS AHEAD!!!!
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