Marist Rugby Canberra
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THE HISTORY OF MARIST RUGBY CLUB

Digital Photo and Clippings Gallery

Thanks to the wonderful efforts of the National Library, the Canberra Times (and many other news sources) is progressively being digitised, making it easier for us to find news clippings - CHECK OUT THE ARTICLES, CLIPPINGS AND VIDEOS page

If you have photos or memories that you would like to share please scan and email in to us. We are trying to get a great archive going of the club, and all contributions are welcomed.

Rugby at Marist College Canberra

In 1968 a fledgling Marist College entered four teams in the ACT Junior Rugby competition, two Under 9 and two Under 10 teams.  It was the Under Nines that secured Marist its first rugby success, a joint premiership in the pre-season knockout carnival.  From those humble beginnings Marist Rugby has grown and developed immensely.  45   years later Marist continues to field anywhere up to twenty four teams and is considered one of the finest rugby schools in Australia.

The teams of the early 1990's were highly successful and talented and it is no surprise to look at our Honour Roll and see how many of that era represented at higher levels. 

Success breeds winners and in 1992, the Marist Rugby Supporters Club was founded, with its first president being Greg Fraser, and in the ensuing 21 years we have had a succession of highly dedicated men as our Club Presidents. The Club later changed its name to the Marist Rugby Club.

The school has always been well served by the school staff and dedicated men like Mick Grealish,, currently in his 25th year, not only as a teacher, but as a father and coach, and many others too numerous to single out, epitomise the spirit of co-operation that has always existed in the Marist Canberra family.

In 2013 Marist College has entered twenty four teams in the ACT Junior Rugby competition.  Ranging in Age divisions from Under 10’s to Under 18’s, these teams play on Saturdays against other schools and clubs in the Canberra region.  Five of the teams were Premiers in their respective divisions last year.  All played in a sportsmanlike and competitive manner and represented their College with pride.

Marist Senior teams represent the pinnacle of Marist Rugby.  In the past the First XV also took part in the Waratah Shield competition, a competition in which many of the finest Rugby schools in NSW and the ACT participated. Marist Rugby were winners of this prestigious competition in  1988, 1992 and 1993 and finalists in 1994 and 1996.

In more recent times, Marist has entered all of its teams in the ACT Junior Rugby competitions and is a very large contributor to the fabric of Rugby in Canberra.

Over the years Marist has provided many representatives to ACT junior representative teams.  Twenty five Marist students have represented the Australian Schoolboys since 1976  In recent years two have represented Australian Under 19’s one in the Under 20’s (which is the current age group for representative sides below Wallaby level) and nine have played in the Australian Under 21’s.  Click here to look at our Honour Roll

Four Marist players have gone on to become Wallabies including Rob Egerton who was a member of the 1991 World Cup winning side and Wallaby Joe Roff who has been to three World Cups - one of the greats of the modern era! Joe went on to captain the prestigious Oxford University side for a few years after his international career came to an end, and spent some time at the French club, Biarritz.

Marist continues to produce many Senior ACT representative players.

Julian Salvi graduated from Marist in 2003 and was a member of the Australian Schoolboys in 2002 and 2003, the second year as Captain.  He was signed up by the Brumbies straight out of school and played six seasons with the Super Rugby club.  In 2004 he captained the Australian Under 19 team to the World Cup in South Africa.  Julian represented the Australian Under 21’s for two years and was the Captain in 2006.

Marist had five Australian Schools representatives in 2005 and two representatives in 2006.  Marist College was the Australian Schools Representative to the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitation Tournament held in Japan in April 2006

In 2010, our latest representative was Tom Cusack.

Currently, there are two former Marist players playing Super Rugby (Phoenix Battye and Tetera Faulkner at the Western Force and Michael Hodge at the Waratahs) and a number of overseas players. One or two handy Rugby League players can also take credit for the grounding that they received at Marist.

In 2010 and 2011, 2007 Captain Michael Hodge, now studying and playing at Sydney University and the Waratahs, represented Australia at Rugby 7’s.

Our latest Australian representative is Tom Cusack, who was selected in the Australian Under 20 squad for 2012, and now, in 2013, the Australian Sevens squad.

In 2012, the 1st XV provided 7 players to the ACT Schoolboys  squad for the National Schools Championships in Sydney during the mid-year break.. and finally we won 6 Premierships in 2012 - the most by any club or school in this years competition. Another satisfying year, 

Added to that, we saw the opening of the beautiful Marcellin Hall, which has provided us with a brand new grandstand and state of the art training and change room facilities. The Rugby Club was pleased to be able to contribute in a significant way by donating funds to set up the weights training facility.

Most years a Senior Marist team tours either domestically or internationally and recently the Senior Marist team participated in the 2011 Christchurch Boys High School Rugby Festival with excellent results.  In recent years we have hosted international schools sides from Canada, England and New Zealand.  These fixtures have been very successful and enjoyable for all involved. 

Rugby at Marist has a great tradition.  The game has been fostered and developed to allow Marist participants to attain all the benefits the sport has to offer – not only the physical fitness and skills but also the friendships and the camaraderie the game offers.  ..........Marist College Canberra is truly a place to participate in ‘the game they play in Heaven .. and we can only think that Marcellin Champagnat would look with pride on these ''great men of God'.


Copyright - Marist Rugby Club, Canberra - 2018