Senirusi Seruvakula, former forwards coach for the Flying Fijians, played a crucial role in Queen Victoria School’s (QVS) 27-13 victory over Nasinu Secondary School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy grand final. This insight was shared by Josaia Waiwalu, the head coach for QVS Under-18, on Saturday night.
Waiwalu praised Seruvakula as the team’s technical coach, stating that he is currently the best coach in the Pacific and that the players are learning significantly from him, especially since he is an alumnus of the school. He expressed gratitude for Seruvakula’s presence within the team.
Earlier this year, Seruvakula was considered for the position of head coach for the Flying Fijians. He previously guided the Fijian Drua to victory in the Australia National Rugby Championship in 2018 and coached the Fiji women’s team to a triumph over South Africa in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Waiwalu noted that the team was well-prepared to defend the Deans Trophy against a strong rival and emphasized that the key to their success in the final was maintaining possession throughout the match. He highlighted the importance of faith, which the team had discussed at the beginning of the year.
Waiwalu also mentioned that the team consists of students from diverse backgrounds who have forged strong bonds and are motivated to play for each other, often inspired by personal challenges. He remarked that this victory is significant for QVS as it marks the 25th championship title.
In a separate note, QVS captain Anare Tabakaucoro expressed his ambition to advance his rugby career, specifically aiming to play for the Fijian Drua. He emphasized the importance of family support, particularly his desire to remain close to his mother while pursuing professional rugby. Tabakaucoro was instrumental in the final, demonstrating poise and control throughout the game and dedicating the win to the parents of the players, many of whom have faced challenges in raising their children.