The Marist Richmond Brothers were a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

franchise that played in the

Bartercard Cup The Bartercard Cup (successor of the Lion Red 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 Zeala ...

. They were a joint venture between two

Auckland Rugby League The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) 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, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the fi ...

clubs, the

Richmond Bulldogs The Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club is a rugby league club based in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. The premier team is called the Richmond Bulldogs and compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. Early history The club was formed in ...

and the

Marist Saints The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They currently compete in the top grade in Auckland Rugby League, the Fox Memorial Premiership. History Founded in 1919, the Marist club first won the Fox Memorial in 1 ...

. In 2005 the competition was reorganised and the club, along with the

Mt Albert Lions The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial. ...

, formed the

Auckland Lions The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly drawn from the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club. Mt Albert had a proud tradition in Auckland and had ...

. Despite this many former players and the coach instead became involved in the

Waitakere Rangers The Waitakere Rangers were a team in the now defunct Bartercard Cup Rugby league competition in New Zealand. They represented five clubs based in Waitakere City including the Glenora Bears who previously represented the City in the Bartercard Cu ...

franchise.

Notable players

Notable players included:

Motu Tony Motu Iosefo Tony (born 29 May 1981) is a former New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand international rugby league footballer who played as a in the 2000s and 2010s. He previously played in the National Rugby League, NRL for the Ne ...

Misi Taulapapa Misi Taulapapa (born 25 January 1982) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a or er for Doncaster in Betfred League 1. He has previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL, and the ...

, Karl Guttenbeil, Marcus Perenara,

Tevita Latu Tevita Leo-Latu (born 3 July 1981) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Point Chevalier Pirates. He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL and the Wakefield Tri ...

Steve Matai Stephen Matai (born 5 August 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL )from 2005 to 2016. A New Zealand national representative centre, he played for Australian club the Ma ...

Jerome Ropati Jerome Ropati (born 23 November 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played his entire career for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL). Ropati also represented New Zealand, and was a memb ...

, Paletasala Ale,

Evarn Tuimavave Evarn Tuimavave (born 28 June 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played as a . Playing career Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuimavave played his junior football for the Pt Chev Pirates, Richmond Rovers and ...

, Saia Makisi, Daniel Vasau, Vae Kalolo and Tangi Ropati.

Results

The Brothers started the competition poorly, missing the playoffs in the first two years. However they turned things around for 2002 and made the playoffs for the first time. In 2003 they finished third on the table but then went on the qualify for the Grand Final, losing to the

Canterbury Bulls The Canterbury rugby league team (also known as the Canterbury Bulls) are a rugby league team who represent the Canterbury Rugby League. They currently compete in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. Their home ground is Orangetheory Stadium in Chri ...

. They dominated in 2004, claiming the Minor Premiership but went down to the

in the finals. They again missed the playoffs in 2005, their final season in the competition. *Two points for a bye awarded as the

Ngongotaha Chiefs The Ngongotaha Chiefs are a New Zealand rugby league club. They are from Ngongotahā in the Bay of Plenty. In 2000 and 2001 they competed in the Bartercard Cup but now they compete in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition. Notable players ...

left the competition.

References

NZRL Brothers Page
{{Rugby League in Auckland Auckland rugby league clubs Rugby clubs established in 2000 Defunct rugby league teams in New Zealand Marist Saints Richmond Bulldogs 2000 establishments in New Zealand 2005 disestablishments in New Zealand