Eastman Warriors shooting for two separate rugby championships

The Eastman Warriors have a chance to take home two separate Rugby Manitoba championships today. 

Club President Isi Masi says this is a big weekend for them. 

“It is a massive one. We are excited to be in the grand finals, both with our Premier team and M League. In the Premier we are playing against the U of M Wombats and then in the M League we are playing against the Wanderers.” 

Masi says their Premier Team has gone undefeated this season and is looking for a clean sweep. 

“This is the first time as a club that we are going to be reaching the finals in the Premier. We have guys from Wales, South Africa, Kenya, Fiji, so we have got a pretty good mix of guys and if we can put into practice all the things that we have been working on, our systems then we are good.” 

In the history of Rugby Manitoba, Masi says he doesn’t believe a team from outside of Winnipeg has ever made it to the grand final, let alone be undefeated. He notes this is particularly impressive considering they were having trouble filling their roster earlier this year. 

“We are all pumping each other up, like 'we are going to go undefeated and bring the cup home.” 

Masi says the Eastman Warriors M-League Team is also in the finals. 

“The idea for the M League was for more development for young high school kids that are just coming up, maybe they played a little bit of rugby in high school and we don't want to throw them up to the Premier yet. It's also for those who are maybe over 40 or people that are just wanting to try rugby for the first time, the M League was made especially for them.” 

The M-League final is at 1 P.M. Saturday and the Premier final is at 5 P.M. Masi says both games are being held at the Maple Grove Rugby Field in Winnipeg. 

Masi thanks their amazing coaches, Eric Laflamme, Ifereimi Kaukirewa, and Kitione Saukuru. He also says this all wouldn’t be possible without their family, friends and the support of their sponsors.