The guidance of former Flying Fijians forwards coach Senirusi Seruvakula was pivotal in Queen Victoria School’s 27-13 victory against Nasinu Secondary School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy grand final. This detail was shared with SUNsports by QVS Under-18 head coach Josaia Waiwalu on Saturday night.
Waiwalu emphasized Seruvakula’s role, stating, “He is our technical coach. He is the best coach in the Pacific at the moment. We are learning a lot from him as he is also an alumnus of the school. We are grateful to have him in the team.” Earlier this year, Seruvakula was considered for the head coach position of the Flying Fijians. He previously led the Fijian Drua to victory in the Australia National Rugby Championship in 2018 and coached the Fiji women’s rugby team in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup, where they triumphed over South Africa with a score of 21-17. Last year, he served as the forwards coach for the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup, during which the team advanced to the quarterfinals.
Waiwalu noted that the team was well-prepared to defend the Deans Trophy against a strong opponent. He explained that the main strategy for the final was to maintain possession, which proved effective. “We spoke about faith at the start of the year and we’ve finally witnessed that,” he said, adding that the team is composed of students from diverse backgrounds.
“We play for each other as many of us have challenging personal stories, and we formed a bond this season to play for one another,” he noted. This victory holds significant importance for QVS, marking their 25th win in the Deans Trophy. “The Deans Trophy belongs to the Tailevu schools,” Waiwalu remarked.
In addition, QVS captain and first-five eighth Anare Tabakaucoro expressed his aspirations to advance his rugby career, stating, “My plan is to play for the (Fijian) Drua. I want to play professionally and stay in Fiji to be close to my mother.” He played a crucial role in the final, demonstrating strong composure and control throughout the game. “This is my last year and I want to give back to the school. Our parents have inspired us greatly. Most of us have been raised single-handedly, and as a team, we dedicate this win to them.”