New Zealand Marist Club Sevens this weekend

Sevens Rugby | 05 February 2015 | Steven White

Many of New Zealand’s 29 Marist clubs, plus several more clubs and invitational teams, will descend on the Wakefield Park artificial grounds in Wellington this weekend for the annual New Zealand Marist Federation Club Sevens tournament.

The tournament on Friday and Saturday runs over two days from early morning to early afternoon, with three divisions this year, Men’s, Women’s and International.?

Likely contenders in the Men’s division include defending champions Hamilton Marist, newly crowned Wellington Sevens champions Hutt Old Boys Marist and 2013 champions Ardmore Marist.?

All three of these sides will be using this tournament to fine tune their preparations ahead of next weekend’s New Zealand Club Sevens Championship in the Bay of Plenty.

The Hamilton Marist Ravens will be out to defend the title that they won last year after beating Rotorua's Marist St Michael's 43-7 in their Cup quarter-final, Napier Old Boys Marist 19-5 in their Cup semi-final and then North Harbour 34-12 in the Cup final at last year’s tournament.?

Hamilton Marist are both the 2014 Waikato club rugby Fifteens and Sevens champions, whilst the Waikato Men’s team are the new New Zealand provincial Sevens champions.

The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles are the Wellington Club fifteens and Sevens champions, as well as the New Zealand Marist Fifteens Spillane champions, and they will be joined in the Men’s competition by fellow home side Marist St Pat’s.

Ardmore Marist are hoping for a return to the winner’s circle after taking this tournament out in 2013 but not attending last year. Ardmore Marist are also the 2014 Counties Manukau Sevens champions.

New Women’s champions will be found this year, with last year’s winners, Wellington club Oriental-Rongotai, not competing. 2014 runners-up Hastings Rugby & Sports will be joined by North Island and South Island Marist teams, fellow Hawke’s Bay club Havelock North and Wellington club teams Poneke and Wainuiomata.

The Women’s competition is a one-day competition, with the 2015 winner crowned mid-afternoon.?

The International tournament is headlined by Samoan visitors Fasito’o-Uta and features the Auckland Fijians and Wellington club team Wainuiomata, who are preparing to join HOBM, Ardmore Marist and Hamilton Marist in the New Zealand Club tournament next weekend.?

The Men’s and International competitions silverware will be decided on the tournament’s second day. ?

Ardmore Marist

Greerton Marist

Greymouth Marist

Hamilton Marist

Hastings Rugby & Sports

Hutt Old Boys Marist

Marist St Michael’s (Rotorua)

Marist St Pat’s (Wellington)

Napier Old Boys Marist

North Harbour Marist

Whakatane Marist

Hastings Rugby & Sports

Havelock North

North Island Marist

Poneke

South Island Marist

Wainuiomata?

Auckland Fijians

Fasito’o-Uta?

Napier Old Boys Marist Development

North Island Marist

South Island Marist

Wainuiomata?

8.30 am Armore Marist v Greymouth Marist

8.50 am Hutt Old Boys Marist v Whakatane Marist

9.10 am Hamilton Marist v Marist St Michael’s

9.30 am Hastings Rugby & Sports v Greerton Marist

9.50 am Napier Old Boys Marist v Greymouth Marist

10.10 am North Harbour Marist v Whakatane Marist

10.30 am Nelson Marist v Marist St Michael’s

10.50 am Marist St Pat’s v Greerton Marist

11.10 am Ardmore Marist v Napier Old Boys Marist

11.30 am Hutt Old Boys Marist v North Harbour Marist

11.50 am Hamilton Marist v Nelson Marist

12.10 pm Hastings Rugby & Sports v Marist St Pat’s

8.30 am Havelock North v Poneke

9.10 am North Island Marist v Poneke

9.50 am Havelock North v North Island Marist

10.30 am Hastings Rugby & Sports v South Island Marist

11.10 am Wainuiomata v South Island Marist

11.50 am Hastings Rugby & Sports v Wainuiomata

12.50 pm Women’s Cup semi-final 1

1.10 pm Women’s Cup semi-final 2

1.30 pm Women’s Bowl Final?

1.50 pm Women’s Plate Final

2.10 pm Women’s Cup Final

8.50 am Fasito’o-Uta v Wainuiomata

9.30 am Auckland Fijians v Wainuiomata

10.10 am Fasito’o-Uta v Auckland Fijians

10.50 am North Island Marist v Napier Old Boys Marist Development

11.30 am South Island Marist v Napier Old Boys Marist Development

12.10 pm North Island Marist v South Island Marist?

?