Senirusi Seruvakula’s guidance as the former forwards coach for the Flying Fijians was pivotal in Queen Victoria School’s 27-13 victory over Nasinu Secondary School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy grand final. This insight was shared by QVS Under-18 head coach Josaia Waiwalu on Saturday night.
Waiwalu praised Seruvakula, stating, “He is our technical coach and undoubtedly the best coach in the Pacific at the moment. We are learning a lot from him, especially since he is a former student of the school. We are grateful to have him on the team.”
Earlier this year, Seruvakula was considered for the head coach position of the Flying Fijians. He previously led the Fijian Drua to triumph in the Australia National Rugby Championship in 2018 and coached the Fiji women’s rugby team to a victory over South Africa in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2022.
Waiwalu reflected on the team’s preparation for the final, highlighting their strategy of maintaining possession, which proved successful. “We talked about faith at the start of the year, and we’ve finally witnessed that,” he noted.
The team comprises students from varied backgrounds, and Waiwalu emphasized their strong bond, stating, “We play for each other as there are many unfortunate stories among us. This win is meaningful for QVS, marking the 25th time we’ve claimed the trophy.” He added that the Deans Trophy belongs to the schools in the Tailevu region.
QVS captain Anare Tabakaucoro expressed his aspirations to advance his rugby career, aiming to play for the Fijian Drua. “I want to play professionally and stay in Fiji to be close to my mother,” he said, acknowledging his crucial role in the final. He dedicated the victory to their inspiring parents, many of whom raised them single-handedly.