The history of the Hutt Rugby Club — known today as Hutt Old Boys Marist (HOBM)—presents one of the most complex, merger-heavy timelines in New Zealand club rugby. Based out of the Hutt Recreation Ground in Lower Hutt, the club has evolved through no fewer than seven separate clubs joining forces over more than a century to become the local powerhouse known as “The Eagles.”
The Early Roots & Fractured Beginnings (1892–1912)
The club’s earliest genetic line traces back to 1892 when the local Epuni Club reformed following a brief, failed amalgamation with rival powerhouse Petone. By 1898, another local side named Kia Ora sprung up nearby.
Realizing they were competing for the same player base, Epuni and Kia Ora officially amalgamated in 1910 to form the original Hutt Football Club.
However, the merger was rocky. In 1911, a group of players dissatisfied with how the new club was run split off to form a breakaway club called Waiwhetu. The rivalry was short-lived; when the primary Hutt FC failed to field a team in 1912 due to a lack of numbers, the Waiwhetu group essentially took over the administrative reigns, moved back, and claimed the official “Hutt FC” name for themselves.
Finding Greatness in Red and White (1912–1966)
Settling into their iconic red and white hoops, Hutt FC became a dominant force in Wellington rugby during the mid-20th century.
They lifted Wellington’s ultimate club prize, the Jubilee Cup, in 1931, 1934, and 1941. This golden era featured a star-studded lineup that produced a string of legendary All Blacks, including:
• Albert “Bert” Cooke (All Black 1924–1930, widely regarded as one of the greatest trick-running backs of his era)
• Nelson Ball (1931–1934)
• Herbert “Lil” Lilburne (1931–1934)
• Edward Barry (1932–1934)
The Battle for the McBain Shield
In 1934, Hec McBain donated a trophy in memory of his late father, Alexander McBain (the very first Life Member of Hutt FC). This sparked the McBain Shield match against their ultimate across-the-river rivals, Petone. It remains one of the most fiercely contested, traditional annual club rugby fixtures in New Zealand.
The Mergers: Becoming HOBM (1967–1993)
Following World War II, the Hutt Valley population exploded, bringing a wave of new clubs. This catalyzed a sequence of major amalgamations:
[Epuni] + [Kia Ora]
│
(1910) ──> [Hutt FC]
│
(1967) ──> [Hutt Old Boys]
│ │
[Woburn/HSOB] ─────┘ (1993) ──> [Hutt Old Boys Marist]
│ (The Eagles)
[Hutt Valley Marist] ──────────┘
Merger 1: Hutt Old Boys (1967)
In 1945, a club called Woburn was formed, primarily acting as the Old Boys network for Hutt Valley High School. They eventually renamed themselves Hutt Valley High School Old Boys (HSOB) in 1953.
By 1966, Hutt FC had slumped to the bottom of the Senior First division and faced a promotion-relegation match against HSOB, who were fighting to come up. Rather than destroy each other on the field, the two neighbor clubs chose to merge. In 1967, they became Hutt Old Boys, adopting the green and gold colors of the Hutt Valley region.
Merger 2: Hutt Old Boys Marist (1993)
Hutt Valley Marist was established in 1949, eventually basing themselves out of Fraser Park in Taita and playing in green, white, and maroon. They enjoyed a stellar run in the top flight through the 70s and 80s, producing iconic All Black winger Bernie Fraser.
In late 1992, Hutt Old Boys and Hutt Valley Marist made the historic decision to unify Catholic and secular rugby in the lower valley. Debuting in the 1993 season, the modern Hutt Old Boys Marist (HOBM) was born. They moved permanently to the Hutt Rec, keeping the red and white hoops of the old Hutt club but adding green stripes to honor the Marist heritage.
