Marist St. Joseph Sports Club is

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

club from

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

. They play in green and white hooped jerseys and enjoy widespread support in Samoa.

History

Early years

Before 1970, having two Marist Brothers' rugby clubs was not feasible in a small country such as

. which were Marist Rugby Club, from Mulivai,

and St. Joseph's Rugby Club from

Lotopa Lotopa is a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is situated on the north central side of the island near the country's capital Apia. The village is in the political district of Tuamasaga Tuamāsaga is a district of Samoa, with a population ...

, founded in the 1960s by Casimir Foley as a team for the players who left Marist Rugby Club.

The merger

In 1970, Marist Rugby Club, who was facing relegation along with Moaula Rugby Club, had to win to avoid being relegation. St. Joseph's deliberately lost in the final in order to avoid being relegated, which caused controversy at the time. As such, the management of the two clubs decided in order to strengthen Marist rugby. The merged club was named Marist Rugby Football Club, the St. Joseph was added to the club name in order to entice the former St. Joseph's College players to play for the newly created club rather than playing for their village teams. John Maihi and Brother Clement were appointed as coaches. Its first clubhouse, in

Alafua Alafua is an Urban area, urban village in the Faleata District in the Samoan capital of Apia. Alafua had 1,347 residents according to the 2016 census. The village is home to the Samoan campus of the University of the South Pacific. It is also near ...

, where currently is located Don Bosco technical school. The inaugural Marist St.Joseph was composed by players such as Felise Vito, Aki Ripley, Iafeta Ekeroma, Ioane Sinuki Melei, George Meredith, Jimmy Fruean, Ricky McFall,

Peter Schuster Peter K. Schuster (born 7 March 1941) is a theoretical chemist known for his work with the German Nobel Laureate Manfred Eigen in developing the quasispecies model. His work has made great strides in the understanding of viruses and their replica ...

, Lino Passi, Norman McDonald, Toetu Palamo, Mefi Palamo, Rudy David, Gordan Bartley, Steve Stanley, Herbert Clarke (Manager), Petelo Lepou, Eneliko Ah Voo,

Jeffrey Atoa Jeffrey may refer to: * Jeffrey (name), including a list of people with the name * ''Jeffrey'' (1995 film), a 1995 film by Paul Rudnick, based on Rudnick's play of the same name * ''Jeffrey'' (2016 film), a 2016 Dominican Republic documentary film ...

, Henry Penn, Maligi Sefo and Maluelue Tafua. Most of them, later represented

internationally.

After the merger

In 1983, Marist St.Joseph was incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Ordinance Act 1952, following a decision from Marist St. Joseph's management to become independent and split from the Marist Old Boys Association after the 1982 first tour of New Zealand, during the Muldoon government in

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 ...

, which declared that all the New Zealanders of Samoan descent and the Samoans resident in New Zealand at the time were entitled to become New Zealand citizens. Upon returning from the tour, Marist St. Joseph members registered their club as sports body with a constitution in order to govern and promote sports and the club's objectives. From the aforementioned tour,

John Schuster Nesetorio Jonny Schuster (born 17 January 1964) is a former international rugby league and rugby union player, a dual-code international. Schuster played for Marists Saint-Joseph, then six times for Samoa before leaving for New Zealand in 1 ...

gained an opportunity to play for

Marist St Pats Marist St Pats (MSP) are a rugby union club who play in Wellington Rugby Football Union's premier club rugby grade The Jubilee Cup. History Since its formation in 1971, Marist St Pats has won Wellington club rugby's most coveted prize, the Jubil ...

and for the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 ...

Since its inception, Marist St. Joseph won many accolades nationally and overseas. The club hosts the Vailima Marist International Sevens Rugby Tournament for 27 years, which helped to raise rugby sevens' profile in Samoa and attracted famous players from abroad such as Michael Jones,

Willie Ofahengaue Viliami Ofahengaue (born 3 May 1968 in Kolofoou, Tonga), widely known as Willie O, is a former rugby union player who earned 41 caps for the Australian Wallabies from 1990 to 1998, and played in the World Cups of 1991 and 1995 as well as the ...

Waisale Serevi Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi (born 20 May 1968) is a Fijian former rugby union football player and coach, and is a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Serevi is renowned for his achievements in rugby sevens, while also enjoying a long car ...

John Kirwan John Kirwan may refer to: * John Óge Kirwan (fl. 1530–1531), mayor of Galway * Sir John Kirwan (1650–1721), Irish entrepreneur * John Kirwan (cricketer) (1816–1899), English cricketer * John Kirwan (politician) (1869–1949), Australian ...

, Terry Wright.

Notable playersMarist St. Joseph's Sports Club 45th Anniversary Celebrations - Iniini Samoa
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Samoa internationals

Brian Lima Brian Pala Lima '' OM'' (born 25 January 1972) is a Samoan former rugby union player who was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. He earned the nickname of "The Chiropractor" for his shuddering hits both on and off the pitch that supposedl ...

Mathew Vaea Tuala Mathew M. Vaea (born 12 September 1966 in Motootua) is a Samoan rugby union retired player who played as a scrum-half. He was the manager of the Manu Samoa at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Playing career His international debut was during a te ...

Freddie Tuilagi Fereti Tuilagi (born 9 June 1971) is a Samoan former professional rugby footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. After playing rugby union at international level, he turned professional and played rugby league for English clubs Halifax Blue Sox and ...

Henry Tuilagi Enele "Henry" Tuilagi (born 12 August 1976) is a Samoan former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He appeared ten times for his national team Samoa national rugby union team, Samoa and p ...

Alesana Tuilagi Alesana "Alex" Tuilagi (born 24 February 1981) is a former Samoan rugby player. He is a retired footballer, currently residing in Fogapoa Savaii and has appeared numerous times for his national team Samoa. He previously played for Parma in Ital ...

* Anitelea Tuilagi * Vavae Tuilagi *

Afato So'oalo Afato So'oalo (born January 5, 1974 in Apia) is a former Samoan rugby union player. He played for the Manu Samoa team and also played for the Crusaders and for Aviron Bayonnais in France. He played as a winger. Career A devastating runner, So'oal ...

Semo Sititi Semo Sititi (born 6 March 1974) is a rugby union footballer in Samoa. He was born in Motootua. Career He is a flanker and currently plays for Ricoh in Japan, having previously played for Celtic League side Border Reivers and Manu Samoa internat ...

* Leamy Toleafoa * Kalolo Toleafoa * Aleki Toleafoa * Laulala Langkilde * Lalovi Langkilde * Michael Toleafoa *

Sila Vaifale Sila Vaifale (born 5 July 1967) is a former Samoan rugby union player. He made his international debut for against in Bucharest on 14 October 1989. Vaifale made his last appearance for Samoa against in Apia on 5 July 1997. He scored the sec ...

George Stowers George Stowers (born 14 February 1979) is a Samoan international rugby union player. He plays as a Flanker or a No.8. Club career In 2002, Stowers signed for World after his international career began to take route. In 2009, Stowers signed f ...

Lio Falaniko Filiga Lio Falaniko (born Apia, 17 September 1970) is a Samoan former rugby union player and boxer. He plays as a lock. Currently, he works as personal trainer. Career His international debut in 1991, against Tonga, at Apia, on 17 June 1990. Des ...

* Su'a Peter Schuster * Etuale Sefo * Malaki Iupeli * Mefi Palamo * Toetu Palamo * Arona Palamo * Niko Palamo *

Ulia Ulia Ulia Ulia (born 13 June 1980, in Afega) a Samoa n rugby union Flanker (rugby union), flanker. He is married to Epenesa Luana Zerina Esera-Ulia and has 1 kid : MAGAUI Ulia David Ulia.Parents Ututa'aloga Charlie Ulia and Elizabeth Lameta-Ulia. Sibli ...

Henry Williams Henry Williams may refer to: Politicians *Henry Williams (activist) (born 2000), chief of staff of the Mike Gravel 2020 presidential campaign *Henry Williams (MP for Northamptonshire) (died 1558), Member of Parliament (MP) for Northamptonshire ( ...

Afa Aiono Afa or AFA may refer to: Mythology and religion * Afa (mythology), in the Polynesian mythology of Samoa * Afá, a West African religion, also known as Ifá in some languages Governmental * Agence française anticorruption, the French Anti-Corrupt ...

Ofisa Treviranus Ofisa Treviranus (born 31 March 1984) is a Samoan rugby union player. Treviranus played for Samoa's national sevens team and was part of the 12 men squad who won the IRB Sevens World Series in 2010. Treviranus made his debut for the fifteen ...

Uale Mai Uale Mai Vala (born 20 July 1978) is a retired rugby union player who played for the country's national teams, Manu Samoa and Samoa Sevens. He is a former captain of the Samoa Sevens team which represent Samoa internationally in the IRB Sevens Wo ...

* Faatoina Autagavaia *

Maurie Fa'asavalu Maurie Fa'asavalu (born 12 January 1980) is a former professional rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He has played representative level rugby union (RU) for Samoa, and at club level for Taula Apia Rugby ...

* David Schuster *

David Sio Tavita G. Sio, also known by his anglicised name David Sio (born Apia, 21 June 1962) is a former Samoan rugby union player. He played as a prop. Career He made his debut for Samoa in a test match against Tonga, at Tokyo on April 11, 1990. He was ...

George Meredith George Meredith (12 February 1828 – 18 May 1909) was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. At first his focus was poetry, influenced by John Keats among others, but he gradually established a reputation as a novelist. ''The Ord ...

Peter Fatialofa Papali'itele Peter Momoe Fatialofa ( Samoan: ''Pita Fatialofa'') (26 April 1959 – 6 November 2013) was a Samoan rugby player who captained Samoa in their first Rugby World Cup appearance in 1991. He was among the first of the New Zealand-based ...

* Romeo Ah Chong * Titimaea Tafua * Faamaoni Lalomilo * Rudolf Moors *

Stephen Betham Stephen Betham is the former Head Coach of the Samoa national rugby union team, that regularly participated in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. Betham, who played for Samoa U-20's at a young age, has spent most his rugby career as a coach. S ...

Others

Sosene Anesi Sosene Raymond Anesi (born 3 June 1981 in Apia, Samoa) is a former rugby union footballer who played as a fullback and wing and currently the head coach of CS Dinamo București. Career Anesi came from Samoa to New Zealand in 2000 on a rugby sch ...

Nepo Laulala Nepo Eti Laulala (born 6 November 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays as a Tighthead Prop for Counties Manukau Steelers in the Mitre 10 Cup, the Blues in Super Rugby and for the national All Blacks, having made his interna ...

Several personalities such as the current Prime Minister of Samoa and CEO of Samoa Rugby Union Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, the first Samoan magistrate Su'a Fritz Thomsen, the first Prime Minister of Samoa Mata'afa Mulinu'u II, Member of Parliament

Lefau Harry Schuster Lefau Harry Schuster (also known as Faualo Harry Schuster) is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the FAST Party and was a founding member of the Tautua Samoa Party. He is the cousin of fellow FAST MP Toeolesulusulu Cedr ...

, also played for Marist St. Joseph.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Marist Samoa official website
Rugby union teams in Samoa