NZ Marist Rugby

FINAL WORD FROM NZM U23 DEVELOPMENT TEAM!

9 days. 23 lads. Different clubs. One team. One whānau. ☘️

From Taupō to Hawke’s Bay, 23 young men came together representing Marist clubs from across Aotearoa. Three epic games, two wins, one close battle — and memories that will last far beyond the final whistle.

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who made our 2026 tour possible. 💚

Firstly, To King Country Rugby Hawke's Bay Rugby Union and Central Hawke’s Bay Rugby, and our opposition — King Country Big Horns, Hawke’s Bay U20 and Central Hawke’s Bay — thank you for three epic battles and for being part of our journey. 🏉🤝

To our whānau and supporters who travelled near and far, Wairakei Resort, Mitre 10 Park Hawke's Bay Hastings Rugby and Sports Club , and the students and staff of St Patrick's Catholic School, Taupo , St Patrick's School - Napier and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Hastings, NZ — thank you for welcoming our lads and making them feel at home.

To Finn MacCuhal’s, Elbowroom, The Cru Bar, The Station Bar, Saltwater Seafoods NZ and our Marist Invercargill divers — thank you for keeping our boys very well fed! 😂🦞

Team photo photographer Rachel Hume thank you for your support and help in getting our teams photos done and out to them ahead of time.

Rob our team bus driver from the epic Bay Tours and Charters thank you so much for getting our whole team around Taupō and the Bay safely.

To our coaches, management for all the BTS work and forefront charge your hours of work to ensure the team is running like a well oiled train has not gone unnoticed.

And finally, our 23 lads — you represented your clubs, your whānau and New Zealand Marist with pride. You arrived as players from different clubs and leave as brothers.

The scores will fade, but the friendships, memories and Marist brotherhood will last a lifetime.

Our 52nd NZ Marist U23 squad has now left its mark…

So, who will be our 53rd squad in 2027? 👀

The jersey gets passed on.
The next chapter awaits.
The legacy continues…

ONE TEAM. ONE HEART. MARIST FOREVER. 🟢⚪🟢

And one for the whānau!

OUR WHĀNAU — OUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.

From near and far, our lads’ families and friends travelled to the sidelines to get behind our team throughout the tour. Your cheers, encouragement and support never went unnoticed.

To each and every one of you who showed up for our boys — we thank you. Having our Marist whānau on the sidelines made it even more special. 🏉💚

It takes a village, and ours is pretty special. !

💚🤍 MORE THAN JUST A TOUR.

The brotherhood amongst this lot is something pretty special. They came together as teammates, leave as brothers, and the bonds made on this tour will last a lifetime.

Different clubs. One Marist whānau. Brothers forever. 💚🤍

📸🔥 FINAL HIT OUT — PART TWO

Because one post just wasn’t enough! 👀🔥

More action from our lads’ final hit out — speed, power, skill and plenty of Marist magic on display. 💚🤍

What a way to close out the tour! 🏉🔥

📸🔥 FINAL HIT OUT! 💚🤍 PART ONE

Here are a few shots from our final game of the 2026 NZ Marist U23 Development Tour!

The speed, power and skill from our Marist lads was exceptional throughout the tour — but in this final hit out, they went ANOTHER LEVEL. 🔥

What a way to finish. What a group. What a tour. 💚🤍

One Team. One Heart. Marist Forever.

Warm Up and pre kicking shots before the final run!

🏆 2026 NZ MARIST U23 DEVELOPMENT TOUR AWARDS 🏆

Last night we had the privilege of recognising four outstanding players from our 2026 New Zealand Marist Under-23 Development Tour.

These awards celebrate more than what happens on the field. They recognise performance, character, leadership, commitment and the values that sit at the heart of New Zealand Marist Rugby.

Our 2026 Award Recipients:

🏆 JOHN PATETE AWARD – MARIST EXCELLENCE
Bede Dodd-Edgar | Marist Nelson Sports Club
One of the tour’s most prestigious honours, recognising the player who demonstrated outstanding leadership, values, commitment and character throughout the tour — embodying what it means to represent New Zealand Marist.

🏆 JEREMY DAVID MEMORIAL AWARD – PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE TOUR
Ben Scarlett | Ashburton Celtic RFC
Voted by his teammates, this special award recognises the player who earned the respect of the men around him through his character, commitment, sportsmanship and contribution to the team.

🏆 BEST FORWARD OF THE TOUR
Hemi Raimona | Marist Invercargill
Recognising an outstanding tour through physicality, work rate, consistency and leadership in the forward pack.

🏆 BEST BACK OF THE TOUR
Ben Hanrahan | Marist Albion Rugby Club
Recognising an outstanding tour through skill, vision, composure and impact, consistently making his presence felt across the backline.

Four players. Four well-deserved honours. One unforgettable tour.

Congratulations Bede, Ben, Hemi and Ben — an awesome achievement and something to be incredibly proud of. 💚🤍

ONE TEAM • ONE HEART • MARISTS FOREVER

And that whānau ends our tour with a epic score to end our lads 2026 NZM U23 Tour. Thank you CHB for a massive battle on the grass.