Officially established in 1937 as St Michaels Rugby Club, Marist St Michael’s Rugby & Sports Club, based in Rotorua, holds a rich place in Bay of Plenty grassroots rugby. Located on Te Ngae Road, it has grown from a local parish-backed rugby team into a multi-sport hub.

Key Historical Highlights

1937 – Foundation: The club was officially established in 1937 as St Michael’s Rugby Club, representing the local Catholic community and wider Rotorua area.

1958 – Spillane Cup Victory: St Michael’s reached national prominence in Marist rugby by winning the coveted Spillane Cup in 1958—the premier trophy contested annually by NZ Marist affiliated clubs.

1989 – Adding ‘Marist’: At the club’s 1989 Annual General Meeting, members officially voted to incorporate “Marist” into the club’s identity, renaming it Marist St Michael’s.

Te Ngae Road Grounds: For decades, the club’s home base on Te Ngae Road served as a cornerstone of Rotorua sporting culture, welcoming partner codes and local clubs over the years.

Modern Era

Today, Marist St Michael’s Rugby & Sports Club fields teams in the Bay of Plenty rugby competitions while operating as a multi-sport organization that supports netball, hockey, sevens, softball, and touch rugby.