Over the years the club has produced a string of top class footballers many of whom have gone on to play representative rugby at high levels including the All Blacks. The earliest All Black which the club tributes in its history stemmed from the original Pirates club (which became Old Boys in 1921). Phonse Carroll pulled on the Black Jersey in 1920. The only reason he didn't continue with Old Boys that year was that a club "Jackeytown" also fielded a team during the 1921-1922 season and this was closer to home for Phonse. However, he returned to captain Old Boys 1923 -1924. He then switched to Rugby League. Phonse was a legend in Manawatu and represented his country in both codes (he was banned from both codes for a period but was reinstated in 1967). Ironically Phonse coached the Marist club (unofficially of course) during the 1930's.
Other club All Blacks included Arthur Law 1925, Brian Finlay 1959, John Callesen 1974, Frank Oliver 1976, Gary Knight 1977, Mark Donaldson 1977, John Loveday 1978, Geoff Old 1980 and Mark Finlay 1984. The club has also been represented in the Manawatu Rugby Union at various levels climaxing perhaps with club stalwart and Life Member Mike Cross being elected as Junior Vice President of the New Zealand Rugby Union Council in 1995, Senior Vice President of the NZRFU Board in 1996 and President in 1997.
Carroll, Alphonsus John (Phonse)
Born the 20th of April 1895, Mataura.Died,1st of December 1974,Palmerston North
Represented NZ:1920,21;8 matches
Points for NZ:13 (3 tries, 2 conversions)
First-class record: Manawatu 1919 (Rangioto Huia), 1920 (Pirates), 1921 (Jackeytown), 1922-24 (Palmerston North HSOB); North Island 1919-21; NZ Trials 1921,24; Manawatu-Horowhenua 1921,24; Manawatu-Wellington 1922
Phonse Carroll toured Australia with the 1920 All Blacks and played against New South Wales in Christchurch in 1921. He also toured Australia with the 1925 New Zealand league team and England in 1926-27. Two sons also played for Manawatu, as did four brothers. Mick Carroll was selected for the 1914 New Zealand team to Australia but withdrew.
Law, Arthur Douglas
Born on the 8th May 1904 died 4th of September 1961, Dannevirke.
Represented NZ :1925, 4 matches
Points for NZ:3 (try)
First-class record: Manawatu 1924 (Palmerston North HSOB):Manawhenua 1925-26 (Palmerston North HSOB): Hawke's Bay 1928 (Dannevirke OB):Manawatu-Horowhenua 1924
Law, who played for Manawatu as a 20 year old, toured New South Wales in 1925 and played in four of the six games, including two against the state side. He had one match for Hawke's Bay after moving to Dannevirke.
Finlay, Brian Edward Louis
Born on the 7th November 1927 died 9th March 1982
Represented NZ: 1959; 1 match -1 test
First-class record: Manawatu 1949-50,57-58 (University), 1951-54,56,59-60 (Marist); North Island 1952,59; NZ Trials 1959-60; Manawatu – Horowhenua 1950,56,59
Finlay played on the wing, at centre, five-eighth and occasionally fullback until changing to the side of the scrum in 1958 in which position he immediately attracted attention. He was selected for the first test against the 1959 Lions but suffered a leg injury making a tackle after 10 minutes of play.
Callesen, John Arthur
born on the 24th May 1950
Represented NZ: 1974-76:16 matches - 4 tests
Points for NZ: 4 (try)
First-class record:Manawatu 1970-78 (Palmerston North HSOB)North Island 1972,74,75,77:NZ Trials 1971,75,77: NZ Juniors 1972-73: Manawatu_Horowhenua 1971,77
John Callesen toured Australia with the Junior All Blacks in 1972 and gained ful All Black status on the 1972 Australian tour, playing eight games including all three tests. He also toured Ireland later that year and played in the Scottish test in Auckland in 1975. He was not available for the 1976 South African tour, but was in the team that went to Argentina.
Knight, Gary Albert
Born on the 26th August 1951
Represent NZ:1977-86: 66 matches - 36 tests
Points for NZ:12 ( 3 tries)
Test points:4 (try)
First-class record: Horowhenua 1972 (Paraparaumu): Wellington 1973 (Wellington): Manawatu 1975-76 (Freyberg, HSOB),1977-86 (Palmerston North HSOB):North Island 1977,84-85; Manawatu- Horowhenua 1977;NZ Trials 1978-83; IRB Centenary 1986
Knight was a first choice from when he was first chosen, on the 1977 tour of France where he played in both tests. Farm commitments made him unavailable for some tours and also for the second internatinal against South Africa in 1981. Knight won a wrestling bronze medal at the 1972 Commonwealth Games.
Donaldson, Mark
born on the 6th of November 1955
Represented NZ:1977-81; 34 matches -13 tests
Points for NZ:20 (5 tries)
Test points:4 (try)
First-class record: Manawatu 1974,76-83(Palmerston North HSOB),1985(Te Kawau); Hawkes Bay 1975 (Celtic); North Island 1980-82; NZ Trials 1977,79-81; NZ Colts 1974-76; Manawatu-Horowhenua 1977; NZ Juniors 1977
Mark Donaldson made his test debut in France in 1977 and retained his place for tests against Australia and on the grand slam tour in 1978(apart from Wales, when he was injured)> He also playeds tests in 1979 but not again until the third tes against South Africa in 1981.
Loveday, John Kelman
born on the 1st of May 1949
Represented NZ: 1978; 7 matches
First-class record: Manawatue 1969,74-79 (Palmerston North HSOB);North Island 1978;NZ Trials 1976-79; Manawatu-Horowhenua 1977
Loveday played two mataches for Manawatu before spending the next four years at Palmer College of Chiropractic in the United States. He was selected for the 1978 tour of the British Isles,on which he played seven of the 18 matches.
Old, Geoffrey Haldane
born on the 22 nd of January 1956
Represented NZ:1980-83; 17 matches - 3 tests
Points for NZ:4 (try)
First-class record: Taranaki 1974 (Eltham); Manawatu 1975-83 (Palmerston North HSOB),1984-85 (te Kawau); NZ Trials 1979,81-82; North Island 1982; NZ Juniors 1976,78; Manawatu-Horowhenua 1977; NZ Services 1984
Geoff Old made his All Black debut against Fiji in Auckland and then made three appearances on the 1980 Welsh centenary tour. He played the thrid test against the 1981 Springboks and played his second test as a replacement against Romania late that year, with a test against Australia in 1982.
Finlay, Mark Clayton
born on the 10 May 1963
Represented NZ: 1984; 2 matches
Points for NZ: 18 (2 tries, 5 conversions)
First-class record: Manawatu 1981-86 (HSOB); North Harbour 1988 (East COast Bays); NZ Trials 1984-85; NZ Colts 1982-84
Finlay was still at Palmerston North Boys' High when he first played for Manawatu. He was chosen for the All Blacks tour of Fiji at the end of 1984 after Robbie Deans had to withdraw because of injury. He played in two of the four matches on the tour.
OLIVER, Francis James (Frank)
born on the 24th December 1948
Represented NZ:1976-81;43 matches-17 tests
Points for NZ: 8 (2 tries)
Test Points: 4 (try)
First-class record: Southland 1969-76 (Marist), 1977 (Waiau); Otago 1978-79 (Tokomairiro); Manawatu 1980-83 (Marist); South Island 1972,74,75,77,79; North Island 1980-81; NZ Trials 1970-72,74-77,79,80;NZ Juniors 1969-70;NZ Services 1968,72
Frank Oliver played his first test on the South African tour in 1976 and thereafter became an automatic test choice when available. He captained the All Blacks against Australia in 1978. He later coached national age grade teams and the Hurricanes. Father of Anton. Another son, Brent, played for New Zealand Universities.