READ about our history and structure here
The
trophy was known as the Marists' Cup and although it still bears the name,
it is the same trophy as played for today under the accepted title of
the 'Spillane Cup'.
From 1926 the Cup was competed for between Wanganui and Wellington and in 1930 Hamilton Marist issued a challenge to the then holder Wellington. That challenge resulted in a conference being called with a view to some form of permanent competition being established. From this gathering of Marist clubs came the 'New Zealand Marist Brothers Old Boys Football Association'. A further result of this conference was the inauguration of what is now known as the first Spillane Tournament. Approval was obtained from the trophys donor to change the intent of the cup from that of a challenge basis to a competitive one which would encourage more Marist clubs to compete.
The inaugural Spillane Tournament which was won by Auckland Marist, was held in Hamilton at Easter 1931. As the tournaments popularity grew, more affiliated clubs came on board, resulting in the Brennan Cup being added in 1936, the Moran Cup in 1953 and the Ham Cuming Cup in 1960. The only break in the sequence of tournaments since 1931 was during the war years 1939-45.
Although the name was New Zealand, this was in reality a North Island organisation to begin with it and continued to be so until 1963 when a combined 'New Zealand Marist Rugby Federation' was formed. The organisation continued to grow to a total of 28 clubs.
In 1931 an Advisory Committee (1932 changed to Advisory Board) was set up to function in Wellington. In 1960 the name was changed to Board of Control. In 1984 the Board of Control was replaced by a Management Committee comprising one delegate from each affiliated North Island club. The committee met twice a year at Taupo and the AGM was held in June at the venue of the following years Spillane Tournament.
The North Island Marist Rugby Football Association continues to meet to this day and is committed to fostering the N.Z.Marist Rugby Federation objectives.
In 1947 Invercargill Marist invited South Island clubs to participate
in the first South Island Catholic Rugby Clubs' Tournament in Invercargill
thus begun an association of that name. On joining the New Zealand Federation
their organisation was renamed the South Island Marist Tournament Association.
Teams played for the South Island Tournament Shield with the Laing Memorial
Cup being awarded to the runner-up each
year.
The Southern tournament flourished for a number of years but during the nineties ceased to continue partly due to the extensive travel needed to compete and of course the lesser number of clubs in the south.
Both the North and South Island tournaments regularly selected tournament XV's with some of these teams playing arranged representative fixtures. The two associations agreed to suspend their tournament in 1991 when the first ever national tournament was held in Wellington resulting in Christchurch Marist beating hosts Marist St Pats in the premier 'A' division final.
The first New Zealand Marist XV selected played against Wellington on 19th July 1964. Many of these fixtures over the years have been stirring encounters, with the most recent being against the now defunct winners of the 1998 2nd Division Air New Zealand NPC Championship, the Central Vikings, (a combination of the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay unions). The match resulted in a narrow 29-30 loss to the combined side.
The ongoing flagship of New Zealand Marist has undoubtedly been the national Marist Colts team which had its beginnings in the early seventies and has had an unbroken run annual tours to this day. The touring team which is selected from nominations, comprises a player from each affiliate club, has regularly toured both the North and South Islands over the years and has been the breeding ground of many lifelong friendships and representative careers.
Sevens rugby has also been prominent on the Marist calendar commencing in the mid eighties with the end of season North Island Marist 'Guinness Sevens' hosted by the College Old Boys Marist Club in Taupo. Several of these tournaments were also hosted by Whakatane Marist with the last being in Rotorua in 1997. The event was resurrected in 2000 under the guise of of the 'DB Draught North Island Marist Sevens' hosted by Napier Old Boys Marist.
In February 1997 the first New Zealand Marist Sevens Tournament was held at Athletic Park, Wellington from which a national Marist side was selected to participate in the international Samoan Sevens. This event has now become a permanent fixture on the Marist calendar and competition is keen, especially with the opportunity of participation in an off-shore tour. Another Sevens highlight was in 1999 when a New Zealand Marist team was invited by the N.Z.R.F.U. to enter a team in the national Telecom Sevens. This opportunity has again been repeated in 2000.
On February 7th 1990, the Federation became an incorporated society and applied for and was granted membership of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union with whom we have had observer status since 1995. With the demands now placed on New Zealand representative teams the New Zealand Marist Rugby Football Federation is now being recognised as a functional partner of the N.Z.R.F.U.
History of the Marist Colts
The concept of the New Zealand Marist Colts tour began on 28 September 1974 with the first game held at the Petone Recreation Ground against the Wellington second grade representative team. The NZ Marist Colts team won this match 11-6. The following year a tour of Nelson, Blenheim and Wellington took place. The concept was continued each year with alternate tours of unions in the North and South Islands.
Many NZ Marist Colts have furthered their careers in NPC, Super 12 and New Zealand levels. These players include Gordon Teitjens, Dion Waller, Tony Coughlan, Marty Hollah, Ben Blair, Paddy O’Brien, to name a few.
Over the past few years, the team has included international players with representatives from Samoa (St Joseph’s), Fiji (Marist) and Australia (Brother’s Club).
The 30 year tradition of selecting a player from each of our Marist affiliated clubs, ensures that players at a “grass roots” level are given an opportunity to tour with a representative team. The main criteria is that players are Marist club members and have shown loyalty to their clubs.
NZ Marist Rugby Federation, as Champions of Club Rugby, promote "Grass Roots Rugby"
