New Zealand Marist Rugby Football Federation

The trophy was known as the Marists' Cup and although it still bears the name, it is the same trophy as played for today under the accepted title of the 'Spillane Cup'. From 1926 the Cup was competed for between Wanganui and Wellington and in 1930 Hamilton Marist issued a challenge to the then holder Wellington. That challenge resulted in a conference being called with a view to some form of permanent competition being established. From this gathering of Marist clubs came the 'New Zealand Marist Brothers Old Boys Football Association'. A further result of this conference was the inauguration of what is now known as the first Spillane Tournament. Approval was obtained from the trophy’s donor to change the intent of the cup from that of a challenge basis to a competitive one which would encourage more Marist clubs to compete. The inaugural Spillane Tournament which was won by Auckland Marist, was held in Hamilton at Easter 1931. As the tournaments popularity grew, more affiliated clubs came on board, resulting in the Brennan Cup being added in 1936, the Moran Cup in 1953 and the Ham Cuming Cup in 1960. The only break in the sequence of tournaments since 1931 was during the war years 1939-45.

Auckland Marist (22 titles)

1931, 1932, 1933, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2015, 2025

Marist Wellington / Marist-St Pat's Wellington (17 titles)

1935, 1959, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2009, 2016

Napier Marist / Napier Old Boys Marist (11 titles)

1965, 1970, 1974, 1987, 2002, 2006, 2007 (joint winner with North Harbour Marist), 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021

Hutt Old Boys Marist (7 titles)

2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2024

Hamilton Marist (6 titles)

1955, 1960, 1971, 2000, 2001, 2023

Gisborne Marist (5 titles)

1961, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1975

Gisborne Celtic (4 titles)

1934, 1936, 1937 (joint winner with Palmerston North), 1938

Hastings Celtic / Hastings Rugby and Sports Club (3 titles)

1978, 1999, 2005

Palmerston North St Patrick’s / Palmerston North Marist (3 titles)

1937 (joint winner with Gisborne), 1939, 1993

Ardmore Marist Rugby and Sports Club (2 titles)

2003, 2004

Rotorua St Michaels (1 title)

1958

Te Awamutu St Patrick’s (1 title)

1967

Whakatane Marist (1 title)

1997

These statistics cover the years 1931 to 2025 when Spillane Cup tournaments were played. They exclude the years 1926 to 1930 when the Marists Cup was contested by Wellington and Whanganui Marist for five years and a single fixture between Wellington and Hamilton Marist in 1930.

Historical Highlights

The First Spillane Cup Tournament Winner (1931)

Auckland Marist 11 (Cornthwaite, Trigg, Muller tries; Evans con) defeated Wellington Marist 3 (McGreevy try) at Rugby Park, Hamilton.

On the first day of the tournament, Auckland beat Hamilton 8-6 and Wellington beat Whanganui 11-9.

Notable Matches and Early Reports

1932

Auckland Marist 11, K Smith 2 tries, Dunn try, Elliott conv vs Wellington Marist 6, Webb and Mills tries (April 6, 1932 - Athletic Park, Wellington).

An article in the Evening Post (March 26, 1932) stated:

"A start was made this afternoon at Athletic Park with the annual tournament for the Spillane Cup in which teams from the Marist Rugby Football Clubs of the North Island are taking part... The tournament last year was won by Auckland."

1933

Wellington Marist 6, A MacDonald try, penalty vs Gisborne Celtic 3, Milligan penalty (April 17, 1933 - Spriggens Park, Whanganui).

The Evening Post (April 18, 1933) reported:

"The Spillane Cup rugby tournament between the North Island Marist rugby clubs culminated in a narrow victory for Wellington over Gisborne Celtic in the final... Wellington accounted for Whanganui in the semi-final by 15-3 (five tries to a penalty goal) and in the afternoon met a vigorous Gisborne side in an even game."

1934

Gisborne Celtic 15, McKinley, Rogers, Carrington tries, Milligan 2 cons, Kaua drop goal vs Auckland 6, Fraser-Smith try, Fleming penalty (April 2, 1934 - Blandford Park, Auckland).

1935

Wellington Marist 9 (McGreevy try, O’Connor con, Stiver drop goal) vs Napier Marist 5 (Benson try, McIvor con) (April 22, 1935 - McLean Park, Napier).

1936

Gisborne Celtic 10 (Turnbull, McKinley tries, Gaukrodger 2 cons) vs Wellington Marist 3 (PP Donoghue goal from a mark) (April 13, 1936 - The Oval, Gisborne).

World War II led to no competitions from 1940-1945.

1946

Auckland Marist 6 (M McHugh try, R Sorenson penalty) vs Napier Marist 0 (April 22, 1946 - McLean Park, Napier).

1947

Auckland Marist 5, converted try vs Celtic 3 (April 7, 1947 - The Showgrounds, Palmerston North).

Spillane Cup donor Charles Spillane passed away in Whanganui on April 6, 1947, a day before the 1947 final was played.

Spillane Cup Tournament Winning Clubs 1931-2025