Tailoring a Future: Grace Mareva leads ‘Gloemca Storms’ into Sinaugoro rugby 9s

The Gloemca Tailoring-backed Storms are one of the 16 teams competing in the inaugural Sinaugoro Rugby League association *(Image: Supplied)*

Breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated arena, local businesswoman Grace Mareva has stepped into the spotlight as both a major sponsor and team manager for Gamunomu Storms in Sinaugoro Rugby Nines.

The owner of Gloemca Tailoring, a small-to-medium enterprise [SME] specializing in bags and apparel, Mareva is utilizing her business success to provide a pathway for the youth of her home village, Gamunomu.

An SME that has supplied bags to Kina Bank for nearly three years, Mareva made the move into the men’s game following a career in the male-dominated cash-in-transit security industry.

After resigning from Corps Security due to injury in 2023, Mareva turned her focus to her tailoring business and community development. Her entry into rugby league was prompted by her brother, a director for the tournament, who encouraged her to sponsor a side from her village.

As a female manager in a male-dominated sport, Mareva said her presence has fostered a unique environment of discipline and respect among the players.

Grace Mareva is the only female team manager amongst the male-dominated competition in Rigo *(Image: Supplied)*

"When they see a female, they do respect. It’s like their mother and a sister to them," Mareva said. "It is a new thing to them, a male sport, but a female leading the management in financial and providing for everything".

Mareva is no stranger to sports leadership, having previously managed teams in Alotau for a decade and sponsored local volleyball and netball tournaments in her home village.

With the Sinaugoro season underway, she challenged other women in the Rigo, Central, to take a more active role in supporting youths.

"If we can step up and support our young boys and girls in our own Sinaugoro, we have to try our best to be recognized so that we try to help them financially and also encourage them that one day they'll be someone," she said.

The Gloemca Storms currently participating in the tournament where provided new jerseys by Mareva’s SME as part of her commitment to promoting both local business and sports leadership.

Storms are leading their pool following the weekend games and will head into finals this weekend at Gomore village.