QUEEN Victoria School’s (QVS) under-18 rugby team is entering this year’s Deans competition with a grounded mindset but with renewed belief drawn from recent success across other school sporting events, including a standout Boys Division victory at this year’s Coca-Cola games and a win from the under-19 in this year’s Vodafone Fiji Secondary School Rugby League.
The momentum from those achievements has become a quiet source of motivation within QVS, reinforcing a culture of discipline, humility, and a high performance as the Deans season continues to build up.
Following a competitive pre-season warm-up match against Marist Brothers High School, under-18 captain Tuikilakila Lalabavu said the team is focused less on external expectations and more on consistent improvement, while also acknowledging the inspiration coming from the school’s broader sporting success.
“Pretty good,” Lalabalavu said while reflecting on the team’s performance. “After this we’ll have to go work on some little things. Even though RKS (Ratu Kadavulevu High School) is still the champion, we’ll just stay hungry, stay humble, and come back stronger.”
He added that the wider achievements in athletics and rugby league have strengthened belief within the team but have not shifted their core approach.
“Just stay humble. Always remember the brother you’re playing for beside you,” he said.
On the QVS coaching side, Josaia Waiwalu has been careful to keep the team grounded despite the positive energy generated by recent sporting successes across the school. The emphasis remains on cohesion, patience, and process-driven growth.
“We’re trying to have team cohesion,” Waiwalu said. “I’m really glad that the boys have managed to up the ante and perform up to expectations.”
He acknowledged that while there are still inconsistencies, the trajectory is encouraging.
“As long as in terms of just getting the processes right, I think we’re there. We just have to go back to the drawing board and try build on from where we left off today.”
Importantly, the coach rejected the idea that recent success has created pressure, instead framing it as a source of motivation and standards.
“The motivation comes from the two sporting performances we just had,” he said. “We’re trying to draw inspiration from that end and continue building forward.”
For QVS, the connection between sports has become part of their identity this season, with success in athletics and rugby league helping reinforce belief. As the Deans competition approaches, QVS remains focused on balancing ambition with patience, aiming to translate its wider sporting momentum into consistent performance on the rugby field.
