Overcoming club rugby challenges
Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club is on a mission to fight the changing perceptions of club rugby in Auckland.
The Panmure-based club, founded by the Marist Catholic Brothers 109 years ago, has brought in a new management team which includes a community rugby development officer, a director of rugby, and a new general manager - all in a bid to re-establish the club as a home for rugby in the local community.
The club has seen dramatic changes since moving from its old home-base at Liston Park in Ellerslie, and new general manager Andrew Va’a said that the changes signify a new direction for the club.
‘‘It’s really a response to the changing world of rugby and the players’ attitude towards club rugby,’’ Va’a said.
‘‘There’s been a shift of emphasis on schoolboy rugby which has made things difficult for clubs to survive in the new environment.’’
Club rugby in Auckland has faced a barrage of challenges over the past five years. A Stuff story in 2015 revealed that club numbers were dramatically dropping and seven senior club teams were forced to drop out of competition.
Auckland Rugby Union’s club capability manager Barry George said: ’’The hardest thing for us is enticing those guys who played at school, not at the highest level, but more for the sake of playing with their mates, to go and carry on playing rugby at club level.’’
But while Marist wants to grow its social base, it also wants to break down a misconception that if a talented player doesn’t make it in high school, they won’t make it at all.
‘‘There’s a stereotype that players think if they are not part of the system, they think they have missed the opportunity to crack a high level,’’ Va’a said.
‘‘We’re trying to re-instil in those players that they haven’t missed the opportunity. If they display professionalism at the club there are still opportunities for them.’’
And the focus isn’t just on seniors. Fraser’s role as the club’s community rugby development officer is to encourage participation and growth in the junior grades.
Rather than focusing solely on the premier team and winning Auckland’s prestigious Gallaher Shield, Marist would rather have success from the bottom up.