The guidance of former Flying Fijians forwards coach Senirusi Seruvakula was pivotal in Queen Victoria School’s 27-13 victory over Nasinu Secondary School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy grand final. This was confirmed by QVS Under-18 head coach Josaia Waiwalu on Saturday night.
Waiwalu highlighted 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 at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup, where they secured a win against South Africa.
Last year, Seruvakula served as the forwards coach for the Flying Fijians during the Rugby World Cup, which culminated in a quarterfinal appearance.
Waiwalu mentioned that the team prepared thoroughly to defend the Deans Trophy against a strong opponent and emphasized their strategy of maintaining possession, which ultimately proved effective. “We talked about faith at the start of the year and we’ve finally witnessed that,” he said.
He noted the diverse backgrounds of the players, saying, “We play for one another as there are many unfortunate stories, and we formed a bond to play this season for each other.” The victory is significant for QVS, marking their 25th triumph in the Deans Trophy, which Waiwalu described as a legacy of the Tailevu schools.
In related news, QVS captain and first-five eighth Anare Tabakaucoro expressed his ambition to advance his rugby career and play for the (Fijian) Drua. “I want to play (professionally) and stay in Fiji to be close to my mother,” he said, crediting his performance in the final to his composure and control over the game.
“This is my last year, and I want to give back to the school. Our parents have been very inspirational. Most of us (players) were raised by single parents, and we dedicate this win to them,” Tabakaucoro stated.