Former Flying Fijians forwards coach Senirusi Seruvakula played a crucial role in Queen Victoria School’s 27-13 victory over Nasinu Secondary School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy grand final. This insight was shared with SUNsports by QVS Under-18 head coach Josaia Waiwalu on Saturday night.
Waiwalu acknowledged Seruvakula’s contributions, saying, “He is our technical coach. He is currently the best coach in the Pacific, and we are learning a lot from him, especially since 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 for 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 Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022, where they defeated South Africa 21-17. Last year, he also served as the forwards coach for the Flying Fijians during the Rugby World Cup, where the team reached the quarterfinals.
Waiwalu mentioned that the team was prepared to defend the Deans Trophy against a strong competitor. He stated that their main strategy throughout the week was to maintain possession, which ultimately proved successful. “We discussed having faith at the beginning of the year, and we’ve finally witnessed that,” he added.
The team comprises students from various backgrounds, and Waiwalu highlighted the bond they developed this season. “We play for one another, as there are many unfortunate stories. We have formed a bond to play for each other this season,” he said. The victory is significant for QVS, marking their 25th Deans Trophy win. Waiwalu further noted, “The Deans Trophy is a property of the Tailevu schools.”
In other news, QVS captain and first-five eighth Anare Tabakaucoro expressed his ambition to advance his rugby career. “My aim is to play for the (Fijian) Drua,” he said. “I want to play professionally and stay in Fiji to be close to my mother.” Tabakaucoro played a key role in the final, demonstrating composure and control throughout 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 have been raised single-handedly, and as a team, we dedicate this win to them.”