History

Below are


The Honours Boards (left) list MSP's All Blacks, life members and representative players.

The Prizewinners link takes you to a list of club award and trophy winners since 1999.

The first 50 years

Marist St Pats celebrated its 50th birthday in 2020, the club's first senior team having run out on to Athletic Park to play the Wellington club on Saturday 3 April 1971.

The new club had officially been created late the previous year when members of the Marist Old Boys and St Pats Old Boys clubs voted in favour of a merger.

The Marist club had been launched in Wellington in 1918, and St Pats Old Boys followed in 1926. Both clubs were at their greatest strength in the post-war years. Marist won the Jubilee Cup in 1948 and 1950. St Pats Old Boys had its sole taste of cup glory when it shared the trophy in 1949.

Marist had a run of Jubilee Cup successes in the 1960s but by the end of that decade neither club was the force it had been. With both clubs in competition for the same pool of players, the case for amalgamation was overwhelming. The vote in favour went through late in 1970.

The new club had its teething problems, however, notably over its colours. The first playing jerseys combined the emerald green and white of Marist and the white and light blue of St Pats Old Boys. The strip was a lacklustre compromise but neither club was prepared to give up its traditional colours.


The inaugural Senior team of Marist St Pats in 1971; even in black and white you can see the colours weren't particularly attractive! Coach: Brian Coulter. Captain: Mick Robbers.


In 1974, in a bid for a new identity and with memories of the all-conquering 1971 British Lions still strong, the club adopted the scarlet jerseys and blue and green socks of today.

That move also had its critics. 'Red is the colour of the dirty British,' declared one club stalwart before storming out of the annual general meeting that voted for the new strip. One player was more philosophical: 'Most of the Irish have red faces anyhow,' he said.

Marist St Pats has gone on to forge a formidable record in Wellington rugby. In 1978 and 1979 the new club claimed its first two Jubilee Cups, with Kevin Horan as captain.

Key dates in Marist St Pats history

1850
Marist Fathers arrive in Wellington

1876

Marist Brothers arrive in Wellington and open a primary school in Boulcott Street

1885

Marist Fathers open the first Catholic boy's secondary school in New Zealand, St Patrick's College

1885

St Patrick's College Football Club inaugurated

1918

Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Football Club inaugurated

1921

St Pat's College and Marist's first All Black, Father Paul Kane SM. He played under the name of Markham, his mother's maiden name

1926

St Pat's College Football Club (Old Boys section) inaugurated

1931

St Patrick's College Silverstream opens

1937

Life member Ken Mahoney joins Marist and continues with the club and the merged MSP, uninterrupted

1948

Marist wins its first Jubilee Cup, under coach Jack Dive and captain Michael Ward

1949

St Pats Old Boys wins its only Jubilee Cup, under coach Vince Paino and captain Harry Avery

1949

St Pats Old Boys first All Black is Des O'Donnell

1949

Marist's second All Black is Ray O'Callaghan

1955

Marist's third All Black, Ivan Vodanovich, makes his All Black debut

1964

Marist wins its third consecutive Jubilee Cup under coach Ray O'Callaghan and captain Mick Horan

1969

Paul Donoghue and Bernie Dive publish Marist's history, 'The First 50 Years'

1969

Ivan Vodanovich is the All Black coach from 1969 to 1971

1971

Marist St Pats RFC is inaugurated following the merger of Marist Brothers Old Boys and St Pat's Old Boys

1971

Cardinal Peter McKeefry becomes the initial patron of MSP and Fr C O'Donoghue the initial chaplain 1971-1973

1971

Marist Brothers school principals become honorary vice-presidents of MSP

1971

Rectors of St Pat's Town and St Pat's Silverstream become honorary vice-presidents of MSP

1971

The new club's first president is Tom Blewman, first chairman Ron Evans and first club captain Denis McColl

1971

A Special General Meeting resolves to construct clubrooms at Hataitai Park

1971

MSP's first premier team plays against Wellington RFC on April 3. Coach is Brian Coulter and captain Mick Robbers

1971

MSP's junior first team wins the club's first championship, the Paul Donoghue Trophy. Coach Tony Collins and captain Bas Dynan

1972

The Hataitai clubrooms, constructed by W M Angus Ltd, opened on 6 April by Cardinal Peter McKeefry

1972

MSP's Ernie Todd manages the All Black team to the British Isles and France

1972

Grant Batty and Joe Karam become MSP's first All Blacks. Both are heavily influenced by coaches Ivan Vodanovich, Frank Ryan and Brian Coulter

1973

The AGM adopts new club colours: the scarlet jersey of the British Lions and Wales, Ireland's green and blue socks, and England's white shorts

1974

MSP first plays in the new club colours

1974

Premiers win the Hardham Cup

1977

Premiers win their first Swindale Shield. Coach Brian Coulter and captain Kevin Horan

1978

John Fleming selected for the All Blacks, MSP's third All Black

1978

The premier team tours Ireland, England, France and Singapore

1978

Premiers win MSP's first Jubilee Cup, sharing it with the Wellington RFC. Coach Brian Coulter and captain Kevin Horan

1979

L T McGuinness Ltd begins extensions to the Hataitai clubrooms

1979

In the WRFU's centenary year, the premiers win all 20 games and complete the Swindale Shield/Jubilee Cup double

1979

The Evans Bay gymnasium built, in conjunction with St Patrick's College, after an offer by Rector Fr J Weir SM

1980

Kevin Horan is appointed Wellington representative team captain

1980

Tu Wyllie becomes MSP's fourth All Black

1980

Paul Quinn named Maori All Black captain

1981

Paul Quinn is appointed Wellington representative team captain

1981

Colts team tours Australia: captain M Woods, coach Fairlie Curry, chairman John Knox

1982

MSP legend Mick Horan dies, suddenly, aged 47

1983

Premiers share Swindale Shield

1983

Brian McGrattan selected for the All Blacks

1985

Premier team tours Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand

1987

Premiers win Swindale Shield and 14 players are selected for the Wellington rep team

1987

John Schuster becomes MSP's sixth All Black and part of World Cup-winning team

1988

Premiers win the Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup

1994

Premiers win the Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup

1992

The Shamrock Club, MSP's business support group, is established

1993 Premiers are Jubilee Cup runners up

1995

MSP celebrates its 25th jubilee year

1995

Premiers win the Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup

1995

MSP life member and former All Black coach Ivan Vodanovich selects six All Blacks and a Maori All Black captain in MSP's 25th Jubilee team

1995

Tim Donoghue publishes MSP's 25-year history "Battling On"

1999

LT McGuinness Ltd upgrades Hataitai clubrooms to a top function facility

1999

Premiers win the last Jubilee Cup played on Athletic Park: coach Peter Russell and captain Kas Lealamanua.

2001

Premiers win the first Jubilee Cup played at the Stadium: coach Peter Russell and captain Kas Lealamanua.

2001

Club launches its first website.

2002

The premiers win Jubilee Cup No.11: captain Trent Eagle and coach Peter Russell.

2003

Evans Bay gym renovation completed in conjunction with St Pat's College.

2003
Premiers are Jubilee Cup runners up

2006

Reunion of 1979 Jubilee Cup-winning team, one of New Zealand's best ever club sides.

2007

State-of-the-art artificial surface installed in the Evans Bay gym.

2007
Premiers are Jubilee Cup runners up

2008

MSP fields its first women's team.

2008

Premiers win the Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup. MSP is the first club to simultaneously hold those trophies plus the Bill Brien Cup and Andy Leslie Trophy

2009

The 60th reunion of the 1949 Jubilee Cup-winning St Pat's College Old Boys team is held.

2009

Premiers win the club's 13th Jubilee Cup: captain Nick Passi and coaches Kevin Horan and Murray Tocker

2010

Victor Vito becomes MSP's seventh All Black.

2011

MSP celebrates its 40th anniversary. Victor Vito is a member of the Rugby World Cup-winning All Black team

2011

Two MSP life members, Brian Coulter (QSM) and Brian McGuinness (MNZM), are named in the New Year's Honours Lists

2012

Premiers win the club's 14th Jubilee Cup: captains Arden David-Perrot and Kas Lealamanua, and coaches Clayton McMillan and Murray Tocker

2013

Artificial Turf opened at St Patrick's College, a project developed with Marist St Pats. A significant addition to the facilities at Evans Bay

2013

The club launches a registered charitable trust, the 'Marist St Pats Shamrock Foundation'

2013

Jeffrey To'omaga-Allen becomes MSP's eighth All Black

2014

Premiers win Swindale Shield, beating defending champions Tawa 28-21 in the final round: captain Peter Sciascia, and coaches Brendan Reidy and Ross Bond

2015
Victor Vito is a member of the historic All Blacks side that becomes the first country in history to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups
2015
Premiers are Jubilee Cup runners up

2016

The Shamrock Club celebrates its 25th year. Wallaby great John Eales is the guest speaker at the annual test match dinner

2016
Premiers are Jubilee Cup runners up
2017
Fa'atonu Fili, already the clubs most capped player, becomes the first player in history to play 200 Premier games for Marist St Pats
2017
Michelle Smyth becomes the first player to play 50 Premier Women's games for Marist St Pats
2018
Monica Tagoai makes history as Marist St Pats' first player to play a test match for the New Zealand Black Ferns in their 67-6 victory over USA in Chicago. Marcelle Parkes becomes our second Black Fern making her debut the following week.
2019
A series of upgrades are made to the club's Evans Bay gym, including re-laying the indoor artificial turf
2019
Premier Reserves win the Harper Lock Shield for the second consecutive year, and the third time in the past four years
2019
On Wellington Rugby's Finals Day, Marist St Pats wins all three finals participated in. The Premier Women win the Izzy Ford Cup; the Premier Reserves win the HD Morgan Memorial Cup and the Premiers win the Hardham Cup. The Premier Reserves are an unbeaten 18-0 on the season.
2020
Marist St Pats celebrates our 50th year. Planned celebrations are delayed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tim Donoghue launches his new book 'C'Mon Red!' at Old Timers Day.
2020
Premiers win the Swindale Shield with a 11 win, 2 loss record. Captain Tom Martin, coaches Zak Feaunati, Edwin Meachen and Daniel Kauraka.
2021
Better late than never, Marist St Pats holds a full weekend of celebrations for our 50th Jubilee after being delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Tony Duffin is the MC for the Jubilee Dinner which boasts a full house to see the naming of the 50th Anniversary team.
2022
Composed by Ngarino Te Waati (Brendon Watt), Marist St Pats' first club haka 'Mariu Whakamautai' is introduced.
2022
The Marist St Pats Hieke design is added to our playing jerseys.
2022
Premier Women reach the Tia Paasi Memoral Cup Final for the first time, falling to Northern United.
2023
Premier Women win the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy (shared with Petone) for the first time in our history. Captain Valini Vaka; coach Ryan Setefano.
2023
Premier Women complete historic season winning the Tia Paasi Memorial Trophy, beating Petone by 36-32 in the final. Captain Valini Vaka; coach Ryan Setefano.
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