Marist St Josephs to honour one of its pioneers

Apia, 11 June 2024 – The Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club Inc. will this year honour one of its pioneers and founding members, the late Muagututi’a George Meredith during this month’s 36th Digicel Marist St. Joseph’s International 7s.

In his memory, the Club has introduced the inaugural Challengers Cup as part of this year’s main tournament.

“The idea behind the challenge cup was to cater for top teams who could not make the main 16 team competition but were still willing to be part of our tournament,” said Tournament Director, Toluma’anave Mathew Iakopo.

“So our executive committee came up with this idea to run the Challengers’ Cup competition parallel to the main tournament with the winning team gaining an automatic entrance to next year’s tournament.”

While finalizing the fine details for the new competition, the MSJ Committee also decided that this was an opportunity to honour some of its pioneers who committed their times and resources selflessly in the past for Marist.

“Like the Tupua Fred and Cynthia Wetzell Cup in the main tournament, we thought it was only appropriate to dedicate our Challengers Cup to one of our pioneers,” MSJ President, Lemalu Nonu Lefaoseu John Lemisio said.

“There were a lot of names that we had to consider, but at the end of the day, we decided on honouring the late Muagututi’a’s George Meredith by naming the Challengers Cup after him.”

Muagututi’a George Meredith with daughter Luciana Meredith Thompson.

Muagututi’a was a former President of the MSJ and was one of the key figures behind the setting up of the MSJ’s former home at Lotopa, once they secured their lease with the Marist Brothers 40 years ago.

The George Meredith’s Memorial Cup will also be a remembrance of all our Marist pioneers who have passed on to the next life.”

Muagututi’a’s family were honoured by the gesture accorded to their late father by the Marist SJ Club.

“We thank you so much for the way you have chosen to honour our late father and husband to our late mother Viva Meredith,” said daughter Luciana Meredith Thompson, on behalf of her siblings.

“Dad loved rugby and being at the Marist Club… it brought him so much happiness and personal satisfaction in the development of the club and it was very much his Happy Place. He would be so proud to have a Marist Memorial Cup in remembrance of him and on his behalf, we thank you.”

The 36 Digicel Marist SJ International Sevens will be held at Apia Park, 21 – 22 June.