30 Jun Roman Warcaba Cup
This weekend the Vikings 1st Grade side will play Gungahlin for the Roman Warcaba Cup, an annual fixture between the two teams that is now in its fourteenth year. The cup is named in memory of Roman “Wacca” Warcaba, who was a loyal servant of the Club as a player and coach.
Wacca joined Vikings Rugby in the very early 90s as a front row forward. Already an established prop, Wacca was a long serving member of the Royal Australian Navy and reached the rank of Warrant Officer. Wacca was a long time servant of Navy Rugby and the Australian Services Rugby Team and toured to many varied and exotic locations in his Navy career. He provided a hard edge to scrummaging across the lower grades and provided great experience and composure during many finals series. He was unforgiving and always played the game in the spirit intended. He was also a strong advocate of developing young props as they came into the Club to ensure that they were not only able to hold their own but to also dominate their opposite number at scrum time and around the paddock.
Wacca moved into coaching at the end of his playing days predominantly as an Assistant Coach. Any Head Coach could be assured that the forward pack was well drilled and mentally tough. He was very popular amongst those with single digits on their backs due to his uncompromising attitude to working hard on the training field and then celebrating successes appropriately as a result. In 2006 whilst coaching Reserve Grade, Wacca came down with what was originally diagnosed as the flu. It would not leave him and further tests identified that he had developed leukaemia. It was leukaemia that would eventually claim his life on 16 June, 2007, a day Vikings hosted Wests at Viking Park. His funeral was held at St Christopher’s in Manuka. The Cathedral was full to capacity with serving and retired military personnel as well as a plethora of those rugby people who knew or had played with Roman. A fitting tribute to a man held in such obvious high regard. Vikings and Gungahlin have a long history of close and hard fought games. Members of both Clubs saw this as an opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Roman’s love of rugby by playing for the Roman Warcaba Cup.
This weekend’s match is well anticipated, given the rivalry on the field that has developed between these two teams. The Vikings currently hold the Cup, and have only been without it twice in its fourteen year history.
Liam Warcaba, Roman’s youngest son, will present the Cup to the winning team. Liam had this to say about the Cup and his Father:
“This game means so much to myself and my family that this match between two clubs with such a rich history and rivalry once again come together and play for the Warcaba Cup. It was because of my dads spirit and love of the game that was the driving for this cup. At the end of the day it’s not about bringing the cup home but it’s about playing the game in the spirit it deserves and respect for the players.”
When: 3rd July 2021, 3:05pm
Where: Viking Park
Who: vs Gungahlin Eagles