M-League Grand Final Preview (Warriors v Wombats)

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M-League Grand Final Preview (Warriors v Wombats)

October 20, 2021

Press Release: M-League Grand Final Preview, Eastman Warriors v Manitoba Wombats.

Kick off: 4 p.m., October 23, 2021 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg.

The newly branded Eastman Warriors will compete against the Manitoba Wombats in the 2021 M-League Grand Final. In what is likely to be a physical and bruising encounter, the two runaway leaders of the M-League will look to end the year on a high.

Eastman Warriors: Simile Naivalu, Malachai Busse and Wombats: Ivan Rakowski, Braedan Willis with the Samuel Spence Commercial Cup. (Photo - Rugby Manitoba Staff)

It is the first grand final for the Eastman Warriors and there is a real excitement in town ahead of Saturday.

“It has been really good for the Steinbach region to have a new team, we have a really good team that the community has really gotten behind,” Warriors Club President Isi Masi said.

The Steinbach based club has a strong Fijian contingent which is represented in the traditional fijian war clubs on the Warriors new logo. Whilst Steinbach and the Pacific Islands of Fiji don’t often go hand in hand, a love of rugby has been bringing people together at the club.

Masi asserts that the key to the Warriors cohesion is that “There's something that always brings diverse people together, and that’s food. We’ve worked on eating together, laughing together and playing rugby together.”

Simeli Naivalu, a key player for the Warriors appreciates the local support and hopes the club can reward the region with some silverware.

“The Steinbach community has really supported the group, they are interested in how we are doing. It’ll be great to have the opportunity to win something for the region,” said Naivalu.

Inside the perimeter highway, the Manitoba Wombats will look to discipline and cool heads to defeat their rivals this weekend.

Ivan Rakowski of the Wombats believes that the key to the success on Saturday is “To keep to our structure and game plan, they (Eastman Warriors) are a big, fast team that can hit hard so we have to maintain our composure.”

Ivan Rakowski played his last rugby before the pandemic at St Paul’s High School before graduating to senior rugby.

On a personal level for the young Rakowski, “It's an exciting new experience, coming straight out of high school and playing seniors and making a grand final. It’s exciting to be a part of, and a physical challenge playing against men.”

In what is a huge testament to the depth and strength of the Manitoba Wombats, they will also be involved in the Premier League grand final on the same day.

Despite being played in Manitoba since 1879, Rugby may not have the status of some of the more established sports but the camaraderie developed between teammates and opponents is second to none.

Simeli Naivalu of the Eastman Warriors loves “The camaraderie and the community, it’s not only about the game, but the community that we build around the game”

Also from the Warriors, Alberta native Malachai Busse said that he loves rugby for the connection you make.

“For me it's about the brotherhood that you build, you can go on the field and hit each other and there will be heat. But you can go for a pint afterwards. That is why I love rugby,” stated Busse.

“It was the first sport I felt truly welcomed, I was a smaller kid and rugby had a position for me just like all body types. The camadardie is amazing especially in comparison to other sports, it’s a fun sport that creates close, lasting friendships,” added Rakowski.

(Eastman Warriors hosted the kleefeld Game Day Jamboree - photo credit Isi Masi)

Whilst the Wombats and the Warriors have had successful seasons in senior rugby, perhaps the best news of the year comes from the work that is being done with the juniors.

Both clubs have successfully launched junior programming this year, attracting over 100 kids to learn how to play rugby and to compete at Rugby Manitoba Jamborees in a late summer and fall season.

“The senior club has increased the visibility of the sport in the region and the community has really gotten behind us. We hope that it encourages others to take up the sport. We’ve seen a huge increase in Junior Participation with kids flag rugby this year since rebranding to incorporate the whole Eastman area,” added Masi.

The Warriors had over 50 kids playing junior rugby in Steinbach and in Kleefeld, with plans to expand in the region next year.

Paul Grosskopf is the club president of the Wombats. In addition to making the grand final in both divisions of senior men’s rugby the club has also run a successful juniors program.

When asked about the success of the club he asserted that “It’s been just huge to see the amount of growth and interest in rugby at the junior level for us. It needs to be built on next year and senior rugby plays an important role in promoting the club and the sport in Manitoba.”

Catch the M-League Grand Final at Maple Grove Rugby Park this Saturday October 23rd. Kick off is at 4pm.