The Eastman Warriors Rugby team is ready for its home opener against the Assassins. 

Isi Masi says they are excited for Thursday night’s game and for the entire season. 

“We were very successful last year, undefeated, won the Premiership which was apparently 140 years in the making for any team outside of Winnipeg,” says Masi. “Looking to defend our title. We are one-and-one right now.” 

The Warriors lost to the Wombats/Brumbies 38-30 and then beat the Wasps 40-10.  

Adam Wollmann expects a good match tonight. 

“I think we’ll easily show up pretty good for the home game, first home game of the year. I think guys are excited, ready to show everybody what we’re about. Play physical, play hard, hopefully we smoke them,” he says. 

Coach Darian Brown says although they lost a number of players to opposing teams, they have a strong core to start this season. 

“We lost our first game, we were short a player the whole game, which is not good. We literally played the game short a player against the team we played in the final last year. We only lost eight points, if you look at it from that, that's great.” 

And the Warriors won the next game by a healthy margin of 40-10. Brown feels good about the Warriors' chances of defending their title. 

“Our chances are good, if we can stay healthy.” 

As is the case with any contact sport, injuries can play a key role in a team’s success, Brown says. 

“Come September, whoever the healthiest team is, they’re going to do very well. So, if we can avoid any major injuries come September, then we're in good shape. And we're also trying to recruit some younger players. We have 30-year-olds, and we need 20-year-olds. We're trying to work on that for the future.” 

Brown invites people to check out the game Thursday evening at 7pm at A.D. Penner Park in Steinbach. 

@steinbach_online #Eastman #Warriors #Rugby practice for their home opener June 20th at 7pm at AD Penner Park. #SteinbachOnline #sports ♬ The Kings Mind - Diego Druck
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