Olive Kilifi on the Utah Warriors and his "Resilient" Teammates

Written by Joe Harvey | Photo by Davey Wilson

So far this season, the Utah Warriors have only lost twice at home. That second defeat at the Zions Bank Stadium came last Saturday when Rugby ATL confirmed their place in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 41-31 victory. Utah had played the game safe knowing that they had made the playoffs after the LA Giltinis had beaten the Austin Gilgronis 31-17 at the Coliseum. It will be the Warriors’ first appearance in knockout rugby since Major League Rugby’s inaugural season in 2018 and the team will get a taster against their Western Conference Finals opposition this weekend, when Darren Coleman’s LA come to town. Heading to California the week after for the playoffs, one man who knows plenty about playing for a title is Warriors’ prop, Olive Kilifi. Joining Utah ahead of this season, the 34-year-old has contributed to Seattle’s two MLR title’s before heading east for new horizons with the Warriors. Also a coach with the team’s academy side, Kilifi came to Salt Lake City, not only with two MLR rings, but having played at two Rugby World Cups and coaching experience with Seattle RFC, where he played the majority of his rugby career before going professional.

BACK-TO-BACK GILTINIS ENCOUNTERS

When Utah travelled to LA to take on the Giltinis for the first time this season, it was quite the occasion. Playing at the SoFi Stadium, in what was the venues first ever sporting event with fans, it was LA who took home the spoils of victory on the day as the hosts won 38-27. Only three teams have beaten LA all season, NOLA having been the most recent side, but only Rugby ATL have been able to back up a victory over the Californians with a subsequent win the following weekend. Each win over LA has been physical, hard-fought and won on pure emotion, the meaning of overcoming a side that were seemingly unbeatable after the opening rounds of the 2021 season.

Photo by Quinn Width

With Calvin Whiting, Mike Te’o, Paul Mullen, Michael Baska and Mika Kruse all returning from international duty with the Eagles, Kilifi believes that while this game does not have an influence on standings, or even the Conference Finals, it is hugely important for Utah to collaborate effectively with a knockout game taking place a week later. “LA’s forward pack is pretty good, they are very dominant, have a good scrum and lineout as well,” Kilifi said. “They have players that have played at the highest level. These are guys that have had experience in Super Rugby, and it is not a task we take lightly. “The first time we played against them, they showed how dominant they can be. So, coming into this game this week, it is not something we take lightly. We try to prepare for every team the same and I think with LA coming here, it gives us an opportunity to get our systems right. “It allows us to test out things that we want to be able to do in the Conference Finals, and even though this game is not as important to the standings or making the playoffs, it is very important to us in terms of how we gel.”

HOME SUPPORT

It is also potentially the final time this season that Utah will be playing in front of their home fans. Having been one of the best supported sides this season, with Covid-19 restrictions having been steadily lifted over the duration of the 2021 season. “We wouldn’t have anything if it wasn’t for our home fans,” Kilifi said. “Their support this season has been massive. This season, we have lost only twice at home and that is a big accomplishment and the fans have played a huge part in that. “Last weekend, we had the men’s championship finals for the local league here, then the Selects played against USA South, and it all ended with the MLR game. It keeps the community close and makes for a real Saturday night. “That is what is really great about a home game with Utah, and you see all that energy when people call to support us. That is what helps us, especially at the end of games where we have needed to come back and win, and it has been a benefit in a tough year because of Covid. “For us to be able to have a tough year in front of fans like that, it is only to our benefit.”

BRINGING EXPERIENCE

It is clear that Kilifi is in for the long haul with Utah. As previously mentioned, not only does the prop bring a great rugby mind, but he is also a leader and knows exactly what it takes to win an MLR title. Each time that he has lifted the shield, the odds were stacked against Seattle, the Glendale Raptors tipped to take the first championship, whilst in the second year it took an extremely late try from Brad Tucker to make the team double-champions.

Photo by Davey Wilson

Now with a different team, Kilifi says he sees some similar characteristics between the Seawolves and the people he calls his current teammates. “With the Seattle teams, I look back and think, how did we even win that?” Kilifi said. “We didn’t have a coach, we were player led, there were a lot of issues that stacked up against us. But all challenges create resilience and helps us to overcome them better in the future. “Coming to Utah, I almost see the same thing. At Utah, most of our player’s work. They are dads, have families and will be building houses in the day before coming to training and bringing it. “These are the guys you see every Saturday trying to make it to a championship, so it is a really amazing thing to see. These guys are playing for so much more than a championship. The resilience here is amazing and to be able to step on a field with these people is crazy.” HOW TO WATCH Viewers in the USA can watch Utah’s clash with the LA Giltinis at 8:00 PM ET on CBSSN, whilst viewers abroad can watch for free outside of the USA on The Rugby Network.