Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club Auckland (popularly known as Auckland Marist) is one of the pillars of the Auckland Rugby Union. Standing tall as a premier heavyweight in club rugby, the team features a proud history steeped in Catholic traditions, national sporting governance, and an astonishing conveyor belt of elite rugby talent.

Foundation & Early Milestones

The foundation of the club is closely tied to the Marist Brothers schools in Auckland, designed to keep young men connected to their sporting and faith community after finishing their schooling.

First Informal Roots
1908
The club began informally when Brother Henry brought together Sacred Heart College old boys and local Catholic youth to form an unofficial rugby team.

Official Affiliation
1910
The club was officially affiliated with the Auckland Rugby Football Union (ARFU). They entered the lower-grade competitions wearing their trademark green and white jerseys.

Senior Status & First Title

1913
Marist achieved Senior Grade status. Proving their immediate competitiveness, they captured their very first Auckland club championship just one year later, in 1914.

The Sacred Turf: Liston Park

For decades, the physical and spiritual home of Auckland Marist has been Liston Park on Michaels Avenue in Ellerslie. Named after Archbishop James Liston—a monumental figure in Auckland’s Catholic history—the grounds and clubrooms serve as a massive multi-sport community center. On winter Saturdays, it transforms into a cauldron of passionate local support.

Gallaher Shield Dominance

Auckland Marist is historically one of the most successful clubs in the fiercely competitive Auckland premier competition. They have captured the prestigious Gallaher Shield numerous times across different eras, standardizing a culture of championship consistency. Their squads have often been characterized by hard-nosed forward packs paired with lightning-fast, physically dominant backlines.

Factory of All Blacks and International Icons

Few clubs anywhere in New Zealand can match the sheer volume of world-class talent that has transitioned through Liston Park. Marist has produced over 30 All Blacks, along with dozens of Super Rugby players and international representatives for Pacific nations like Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji.

The club boasts some of the most influential figures in rugby history:

• Sir Fred Allen (#453): “The Needle”—the legendary All Black player and unbeaten All Black coach of the 1960s—was heavily tied to Marist’s legacy.
• Terry Lineen (#587): A brilliant mid-century All Black second-five eighth and a beloved Marist life member.
• John Kirwan (#848): The iconic, powerhouse All Black winger who starred in the 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning side began his legendary journey in a Marist jersey.
• Zinzan Brooke (#883) & Robin Brooke (#921): The legendary brothers who dominated the All Blacks forward pack throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. Zinzan is widely considered one of the most naturally skilled Number 8s to ever play the game.
• Dylan Mika (#982) & Pat Lam: Powerhouse loose forwards who left massive legacies both for the All Blacks/Samoa and later in professional coaching.
• Rieko Ioane (#1156) & Akira Ioane (#1190): The modern era is anchored by the explosive Ioane brothers, carrying on the club’s tradition of supplying top-tier athletes to the Blues and All Blacks.