The Marist Saints is a rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand

Mount Albert, New Zealand

Mount Albert is a volcanic peak and suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The suburb was Auckland's second, after Remuera, and was mostly settled by well-off families in the late 1800s and early 1900s...

. They regularly feature in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League

Auckland Rugby League

The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...

. However they are going through a rebuilding phase and after competing in the 2nd tier competition Sharman Cup in 2010, they have now been promoted to the top Auckland rugby league competition, The Fox Memorial Shield.

History

Founded in 1919, the Marist club first won the Fox Memorial in 1924. They originally played at the Auckland Domain

Auckland Domain

The Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park, and at 75 hectares one of the largest in the city. Located in the central suburb of Grafton, the park contains all of the explosion crater and most of the surrounding tuff ring of the Pukekawa volcano....

 before moving to their current home, in Murray Halberg Park. The Mount Albert Lions split from the Marist club in 1927.

Between 2000 and 2005 the Saints were involved in the Bartercard Cup

Bartercard Cup

The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...

 alongside the Richmond Bulldogs as the Marist Richmond Brothers

Marist Richmond Brothers

The Marist Richmond Brothers were a New Zealand rugby league franchise that played in the Bartercard Cup. They were a joint venture between two Auckland Rugby League clubs, the Richmond Bulldogs and the Marist Saints. In 2005 the competition was reorganised and the club, along with the Mt Albert...

.

Notable players

Notable former juniors include William "Bill" Stormont, Norm Loveridge, Arthur Singe, Lyle Stewart, Hec Brisbane, Jim "Offside" O'Brien, Jack Kirwan, Charles "Pope" Gregory, Claude List, Wilfrid Hassan, G "Stump" Campbell, Norm Campbell, Alan Clarke, Jim Laird, Roy Asotasi

Roy Asotasi

Roy Asotasi is a professional rugby league footballer who currently captains the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League. A New Zealand international representative prop forward, he previously played for the Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership...

, Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams is a New Zealand rugby union player and former rugby league player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. In rugby union he usually plays as a centre...

, Jerome Ropati

Jerome Ropati

Jerome Ropati is a professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League. Ropati was a member of the World Cup-winning New Zealand team in 2008...

, Motu Tony

Motu Tony

Iosefo Motu Tony is a Samoan-New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and previously played for Hull and Whitehaven...

, Francis Meli

Francis Meli

Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....

, Gene Ngamu

Gene Ngamu

Gene Robert Ngamu is a New Zealand former rugby league player. He played mainly at Halfback or Five Eighth and is probably best known for his combination with Stacey Jones in the Auckland Warriors and New Zealand Kiwis.-Early years:...

, Rudi Wulf

Rudi Wulf

Rudi Wulf is a rugby union footballer who plays for Toulon in the French Top 14. He joined Toulon on a two-year contract after being left out of the 2010 All Black Tri Nations squad. He previously played for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup and the Auckland-based Blues in the Super 14...

, Siuatonga Likiliki

Siuatonga Likiliki

Siuatonga Likiliki is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition. His position of choice is at .-Early years:...

, Bill Tupou

Bill Tupou

Bill Tupou is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:...

 and Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa

Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa

Kalifa Faifai Loa is a New Zealand rugby league player. He currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League and has played in one Test for New Zealand...

, Des Barchard

Des Barchard

Desmond Alfred Barchard is a New Zealand former rugby league player and coach who represented and coached his country. Barchard was the coach of the Kiwis in the 1968 and 1972 World Cups.-Playing career:...

, Brian Lima

Brian Lima

Brian Lima is a former Samoan rugby union footballer who was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. Originally a wing, Lima moved into centre for Manu Samoa as his pace lessened, but he remained a formidable player throughout his career.He earned the memorable nickname of "The Chiropractor"...

.

External links

• Official ARL Site