Marist Albion RFC

By Gary Burrowes

On Saturday 23 April after the season’s first Senior home game against Lincoln University, several players from the Marist Under 19 teams of 1972, 73, 74 and 75 reunited at the clubrooms to have a beer and mark 50 years since that time. It was great to see faces from all those years ago, with some coming from as far away as Auckland. Many more would have loved to have made it but of course are spread all around the world. More importantly, however, this was an occasion to recognise the significance of Father Weir’s contribution in coaching the four Under 19 teams of those years, and the long term impact of that on the club [and also to wish him a very happy 87th birthday – 25th April].

In the late 1960s, early 70s the Marist club had dipped considerably in fortunes from the two very successful golden eras of the early 1920s and the early 1950s – Marist won five consecutive Christchurch Senior Championship titles just after WW1, and four more titles in the eight years just after WW2. No club has ever bettered five consecutive titles in the history of the competition from 1883, although Linwood also did five in the 1890s. Father Weir was, in 1971 alarmed [putting it mildly] to witness his beloved Marist club on the receiving end of a good beating from a University B side, and even more alarmed [putting it even more mildly] to observe that many of the Varsity team were faces that he recognised from St Bede’s [where he had previously taught English], and from other Catholic colleges around the country.

At that time Father Weir was a very busy man – Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Canterbury University and completing his PhD, Rector of Rochester Hall of Residence at UC, and performing various Priestly duties for the Church. However, he made a vow that Marist would rise again, and began recruiting [with his numerous contacts all around the country and at the university] for an under 19 team the following year, 1972. Father Weir coached this team in 1972 with great success, convincingly winning the very prestigious Under 19 grade - unbeaten with over 500 points for and only 4 tries scored against. Similar success was achieved in the following three years – four titles and only one game lost. This glory run captured much attention far and wide, and resulted in many more talented rugby players being attracted to the club in all grades including Seniors. Before long the pool of talent overall had increased markedly and fortunes were rising fast. Silverware became bountiful in all grades and the Senior team won the CSB Cup [Round Robin] in 1983 and 1984, and the CSB Trophy [Playoffs – Championship Title] in 1985. This marked the beginning of a third golden era for Marist, five more Senior Titles in ten years.

Father Weir transferred to Wellington in 1976 to be the Rector at St Patrick’s College leaving behind a wonderful legacy in Christchurch Marist’s history for which many, many people are extremely grateful – one shudders to think what might have been, but for his remarkable contribution – not just recruitment and coaching but also first class man management, the facilitation of a great team/club culture, and most importantly a clear vision for the long term success of the club.

After the amalgamation with Albion, 2 more Senior Championship Titles followed [2003 and 2021] placing Marist Albion at 4 th in the All Time Stakes with 16 Titles – HSOB 21, University 18, Christchurch 17, Marist Albion 16, Linwood 15 and Sydenham 12. Albion had always been a very strong club prior to the amalgamation and won 8 Senior Championship Titles – 6 in the 9 year golden era from 1903 to 1911, plus 1934 and 1944 [one might argue that this totals 24 to be 3 ahead of Old Boys, however, the 2 titles post amalgamation were simply added to the higher of a single club, 14 and 8]. Hopefully being the current title holder heralds the commencement of a further golden era in the very proud history of Marist Albion – 6 more consecutive titles would see us surpass HSOB, and better our own 100 year old record along the way. With the blessing of Father Weir we are “in with a shot”, and [putting it mildly], there could be a shot or two of scotch to celebrate a VERY happy 93rd birthday.

Article added: Friday 06 May 2022