The Queen Victoria School Under-18 rugby team, the defending champions of the Vodafone Deans Trophy, is prioritizing discipline and leadership as they prepare to face Marist Brothers High School in the quarterfinals at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva tomorrow.
In an interview, QVS U18 captain Anare Tabakaucoro shared insights into their preparations, acknowledging Marist as a formidable opponent despite their third-place finish in the zonal competition. “We had a normal preparation and we know that Marist is a good team. We respect them,” he stated.
Tabakaucoro is adjusting to his new role within the team this year, having not competed alongside them in the previous season. He plans to draw on past experiences to guide his teammates. “I usually advise my teammates of what the previous team did in terms of planning, preparation, and execution. That made us win the Deans Trophy,” he noted, expressing the team’s commitment to support each other, their families, friends, and alumni.
He emphasized the emotional drive that motivates the players, reflecting on the sacrifices made by their parents, especially for those coming from distant locations like Vanua Levu. “All those times our parents prepare our meals for us because some of our teammates haven’t seen their families in a long time,” Tabakaucoro said, highlighting the challenging backgrounds of several team members, particularly those raised by single parents.
Despite his experience playing for the Fijian Warriors and the Fiji Under-20 teams, Tabakaucoro maintains a humble attitude. “I always tell myself to be humble and put God first because everything that happens in my life is not about me, it’s all about God,” he remarked. He further conveyed the coaching staff’s perspective that the team should focus on winning rather than merely defending their title.
In contrast, the manager of Marist Brothers High School’s U18 team has chosen to maintain a low profile and declined interview requests.