The 2026 NZ Marist U23 Development Tour brought together 22 young rugby players from Marist-affiliated clubs across Aotearoa for a 10-day development experience through Taupō and Hawke’s Bay, from 31 July to 9 August 2026. The kaupapa extended well beyond rugby: it was about development, connection, representing the Marist values, building friendships and giving young men an opportunity to experience a representative touring environment. 

The tour began in Taupō, with the squad based at Wairakei Resort. After coming together from clubs around the country, the early days focused on establishing team culture, training and getting to know one another before the first fixture.

The team opened its campaign on Saturday 1 August at Owen Delany Park, taking on the King Country Big Horns. It was an impressive start, with NZ Marist recording a commanding 78–12 victory.

From Taupō, the tour moved into Hawke’s Bay, where the players experienced another side of the development programme. Alongside training and rugby, the group visited St Patrick’s School Napier and St Mary’s School Hastings, connecting with students and representing NZ Marist within the wider community.

On Tuesday 4 August, NZ Marist faced Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union Development at MacRae Field. It proved to be the toughest contest of the tour, with Marist narrowly going down 26–21. Despite the result, the match provided exactly the type of challenging development opportunity the tour was designed to create.

The squad bounced back strongly for its final fixture on Saturday 8 August, taking on Central Hawke’s Bay at Central Park. NZ Marist finished the playing component of the tour in style with a 77–14 victory, completing the tour with a two-win, one-loss record.

Away from match day, there was plenty packed into the experience — training, recovery, team activities, go-karting, AC Baths, school visits and countless opportunities for a group of players who had arrived from different clubs to grow into one team.

🏆 Tour Awards

At the conclusion of the tour, four players were recognised:

• Best Back — Ben Hanrahan
• Best Forward — Hemi Raimona
• Players’ Player — Ben Scarlett
• Marist Excellence — Bede Dodd-Edgar

All four are listed among the official 2026 NZ Marist touring players.

The management group was led by Head Coach Shaun Breen, alongside Assistant Coaches Dion Waller and Craig Glendinning, Team Manager Regan Fahey, and Media Manager Roschelle Ormsby. The official NZ Marist material also records Ormsby in the tour's media/promotions role. 

Ultimately, the 2026 NZ Marist U23 Development Tour was about much more than the scoreboard. Twenty-two players came together representing clubs from throughout New Zealand, pulled on the NZ Marist jersey and shared an experience built around rugby, development, service, friendship and the wider Marist whānau.

They arrived representing their individual clubs — and left having created their own chapter in the NZ Marist story. 🟢⚪️