Marist St Michael's Rugby and Sports Club will honour a successful and prestigious history as it celebrates its 80th jubilee this weekend.
Over the years the club has seen talented youngsters go on to make it at the highest level, including former Chief and All Black Liam Messam, who is aiming to play for the New Zealand Sevens side at this year's Olympics.
All Blacks legend Steve McDowall - who was capped 81 times - and arguably the nation's most successful coach Sir Gordon Tietjens are also products of the club.
Tietjens, 60, was 5 years old when he played his first game of rugby, barefoot in the frost for the club, which was then known as St Michael's School. He played for them until 1983. The importance of discipline and dedication was instilled into the future New Zealand Sevens coach.
As a coach Tietjens has gone on to take 12 of the 16 World Series titles over the past two decades and today will return to Rotorua to take part in the Marist St Michael's celebrations.
The knighted coach told the Rotorua Daily Post he has lots of fond memories to draw upon for his speech at the club's formal dinner tonight.
"St Michael's will always have a place in my heart. It's the club that started me off and taught me so many important early lessons," he said. "We were always taught to be competitive and discipline was drilled in from the off which is so important when you're starting out as a youngster.
Sir Gordon Tietjens is a products of the club.
"I loved pulling on the shirt every weekend and every game was fierce - I remember the biggest rivalry was between us and Rotorua Old Boys.
"It is a club which really puts importance on the development of young players and they offer strong support right through all of their teams."
To honour the occasion Marist St Michael's will also host a number of matches today from junior to senior level including the Division One match against Kahukura and a friendly between the senior reserves and Ngongotaha.
While celebrating the occasion, club president Sean Defarias is also looking to the future and has high aspirations for Marist St Michael's, especially the top men's side.
"This is a huge event for the club and it has been great to delve back into the history of the club and look over all our fabulous memories," he said. "But we are always looking to grow and expand, especially in the youth side because that's where the future is.
"We also are aiming for premiership rugby so it will be a good game to catch against Kahukura."
First-team coach Mike Lewis added: "We have the quality to push up with this side.
"And I've no doubt that the club will still be going strong in another 80 years, so cheers to that."
Current life members include the long-serving Kevin Hodge, Tony Thompson, Morrie Geenty, Ray Mudgeway and Ron Lodge.
Hodge, 60, who played alongside Tietjens, started when he was 14 and is still involved with the club after playing through all the grades and coaching at U19, U21 and senior reserve level.
"I just can't seem to leave this club - that's the magic about it. I remember back when I played that was your pride, pulling on the jersey. It gave me so much joy every time," he said.
"It's the people who really make this club and I'm so proud that my own history is intertwined with this club."
Jubilee Committee chairman Mudgeway, who has been involved in the club since the late 1960s, added: "It will be a great celebration, there is no doubt about it. There are people coming from all over, including Australia.
"It will be really cool catching up with your old teammates you haven't seen for 20 or so years, and it should be an intense weekend for all the right reasons."
Other activities over the weekend include a netball match, formal dinner, junior club rugby and a barbecue luncheon.
-For more information contact Sean Defarias on 027 2475 107.
