Senirusi Seruvakula, former forwards coach of the Flying Fijians, played a crucial role in Queen Victoria School’s 27-13 victory over Nasinu Secondary School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy final. Josaia Waiwalu, the head coach for the QVS Under-18 team, shared this insight with SUNsports on Saturday night. He described Seruvakula as the technical coach, noting that his expertise is invaluable, especially since he is an alumnus of the school.
Waiwalu praised Seruvakula’s coaching skills, stating, “He is the best coach in the Pacific at the moment. We are learning a lot from him.” Earlier this year, Seruvakula was shortlisted for the head coach position of the Flying Fijians and previously led the Fijian Drua to victory in the Australia National Rugby Championship in 2018. He also coached the Fiji women’s rugby team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022, where they achieved a notable win over South Africa.
Last year, Seruvakula served as the forwards coach for the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup, where the team reached the quarterfinals. Waiwalu mentioned that the team was well-prepared to defend their Deans Trophy title against a strong opponent and emphasized their strategy to maintain possession throughout the match.
He expressed, “We talked about faith at the start of the year and we’ve finally witnessed that,” highlighting the strong bond formed among the players from diverse backgrounds. Waiwalu noted that this win is significant for QVS as it marks their 25th triumph in the Deans Trophy, adding, “The Deans (Trophy) is a property of the Tailevu schools.”
In a separate statement, QVS captain and first-five eighth Anare Tabakaucoro revealed his aspirations to advance his rugby career by joining the Fijian Drua. “I want to play (professionally) and stay in Fiji to be close to my mother,” he shared. Tabakaucoro played a vital role in the final, demonstrating composure and control. He dedicated the victory to his parents and acknowledged the challenges many players face, as most were raised by single parents. “Our parents have been very inspirational,” he noted.