TEIVOVO.COM – FEATURE

The club on the hill

27 December 2000

The year was 1913… when expatriates in Fiji stumbled upon the natural rugby talents of the locals. So the Governor at the time, Sir Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott, donated the Escott Shield, and it has remained a hotly contested trophy on the Suva club rugby scene ever since. Eleina McDonald reports on QVSOB’s attempts at securing the trophy.



After a long and fluctuating battle this year, the “Victorians” fell in the Escott Shield quarterfinals, unable to repeat their one-off triumph of 1970.

Queen Victoria School Old Boys (QVSOB) club remains one of the oldest and most respected associations in Fiji rugby history. Situated at Brewster Street in Toorak, the blue and white clubhouse was built in the early part of the century, like many other structures in the area.

Despite its lack of silverware, QVSOB has plenty to be proud of. In addition to a list of past members that includes heads of state, governors general, and prime ministers, the club boasts a spirit probably unequalled in Fiji.

The early days
In the early 1950s, a batch of former QVS students in Nasese worked as civil servants for the Native Land Trust Board and played for one of Suva’s top rugby clubs at the time – Gaunavou.

The background of the Gaunavou rugby club began in the 1920s, through Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. During the 1930s, Ratu George Cakobau was also a part of the club.

Complemented by a few Ratu Kadavulevu School and Lelean Memorial School students, players such as Orisi Dawai, Joe Levula, Aminisitai Burogolevu, Eroni Tuisawaqa and Tom Vuetilovoni were part of the team that became the cream on the cake for rugby clubs in Suva during the 1950s.

Tuisawaqa, an ex-student and former player for the QVSOB, helped fill in the missing links that brought about the formation of the QVSOB rugby club and the ideas of Gaunavou.

“Ratu Sukuna and Ratu George Cakobau weren’t involved after 1938 because they took on administrative work,” Tuisawaqa explained. “However, the idea of Gaunavou had a special significance.

“Gaunavou means ‘new blood.’ When you come in, you change your outlook on things. It’s about bringing in new changes and creating new styles of play,” Tuisawaqa said.

As time passed, these new changes prevailed. Seven years later, QVS split up from Gaunavou.

Vuetilovoni, one of the younger players at the time, was one who initiated the new move with team-mates Dawai, Levula, Burogolevu and Tuisawaqa.

At that time, Dawai also captained the 1957 Fiji team to New Zealand and later played rugby league in England, where he passed away.

“The QVSOB association, which at the time had nothing to do with the rugby club, bought the premises in 1962 from the original owners, another association called ‘viti carauvou,’ now known as the Fijian Association,” Tuisawaqa said.

“However, the QVSOB rugby club didn’t open its doors until 31 December, 1971, our ‘beer trading’ period,” he laughed.

In 1964-65, Vuetilovoni (currently the FRU chairman), Joe Kamikamica, Peni Waqa and a few others in government were still playing in the team.

The team reached dizzy heights in 1971 when they won the Escott Shield – but they are still waiting for a second-coming of that year.

Potting the red... snooker action at the QVSOB clubhouse

Second decline
“I think it was in 1979, when there was no coach. Things were dealt with in group discussions. We talked about the things we wanted to do and we played well! That was the kind of mood that made us perform well.”

Alas, the standard of the boys in blue began to drop once again as their careers took priority. Most were transferred out of Suva and others found greener pastures in family life.

Hence, the second downfall.
But following Vuetilovoni’s footsteps came Apisalome Baro. He was the backbone of the move to revive the club again in 1982.

Mo Taga, who was part of the ‘new’ revival group and later became Fiji captain, talked of the difficulty involved in getting it all up and running again.

“Trying to unite the players and rebuild the club from 1982 and get back to the senior A level, was a bloody hard job," he said.

“We started off with the senior reserves, came up to the senior second and we then fought our way to the senior A competition. By 1984, we were back in the senior competition and there were a few of us who had just left school then, Paula Bale, Isireli Waqa and myself.”

On learning that the QVSOB team had been revived, many ex-students came and joined the club.

A solid platform was built, keeping the scholars together and it became an opportunity to carry the club up to a higher level.

“Since 1970, we haven’t won the Escott Shield, which is the ultimate prize for rugby in Suva,” Taga said.

“The ironic thing is that QVSOB was on a roll, and then they just left rugby all together,” he said.

“Isireli Waqa and I went to represent Fiji at under 21s in 1985. Paula Bale left for New Zealand to find himself playing for Canterbury a few years later.”

In 1998, another breakthrough: QVSOB reached the Escott Shield final to play Lomaiviti. The match was close, but QVSOB lost in the final minutes of the game.

However, QVSOB did find success in the Samsung Trophy – a weekly club challenge.

“Two years ago, we defended the Samsung Trophy for six consecutive matches – the most ever by any team at that time,” Taga said.

“Later on, the Police rugby club won it, and Raiwaqa, the current holders, broke our record by defending it eight times.”

One of the main aims of the club is to ensure that there is something for school leavers.

Multicoloured... the QVSOB squad at the YMCA grounds in Waimanu Rd

“With the new professionalism period going on now, most rugby players earn a lot of money, even more than the CEOs of some companies. Therefore, we should act as a catalyst to help these people reach new heights in rugby and let them experience the money overseas players are being paid.”

The association itself has been accredited by former scholars and current members for playing an important role in their lives.

“It is the driving force behind all fundraising, sponsorship and similar matters,” Taga said. “The club, our elder brothers and ex-scholars have been the building all this time and we really appreciate all the help and assistance given to us.

“At the clubhouse, individual status is left at the door. Ex-scholars and ex-students are all the same, irrespective of their age or what year taught at QVS. When you walk in, you enter as a school–mate. That’s why the camaraderie is so good.”

Perfect examples of this are the government ministers who attended QVS – their high status gives them no privileges once they enter the clubhouse.

Current assistant coach... Witi Maraiwai

All equal
Maciu Lewaki, manager of the QVSOB rugby club says that even when people such as Sitiveni Rabuka enter, the older brothers sitting afar shout out, ‘Hey, boy get us some beer!’

“With a smile, the former prime minister turns around, gladly fetches it for them, and everyone has a good laugh,” Lewaki said.

A couple of decades have passed and the QVSOB rugby club has developed a treasure chest full of pride and memories. However, it has also entered today’s world by adding its name to women’s rugby.

Taga explained that Mereiwai Sokovata from Colonial and Laijipa Naulivou from USP asked if they could form a QVSOB women’s rugby team.

“We feel good about being associated with the women because lately, rugby has been heading in that direction,” Taga said. “There have already been three women’s World Cups in rugby, so we hope they will have a chance to play in one as well.”

Being a club that hasn’t had many opportunities to wave the shield or rather, any cup around over the years, the memories within each former student/player, is the major value and biggest prize that they have ever won.

Tuisawaqa says that rugby to all of them is a past-time. “Most of these men are now full-time workers. Some are soldiers and can’t find the time. The club itself has helped us relive the good times.”

In the meantime, the U19 QVS team won the Dean Trophy for three consecutive years through to 1999, and remain the holders as Lelean Memorial School walked away with a different cup in September.

Plans are under way to combine all the QVSOB sporting groups (men’s and women’s rugby union, rugby league and cricket) with a well deserved break-up party as the grand finale to end a productive year.

“Now we have women rugby players in the club, we’ve got someone to make the sandwiches!” Taga joked.

Queue at the bar... regulars enjoy the social scene

The year QVSOB won the Escott shield
Samisoni Naiduki, who captained the 1971 QVSOB team that won the Escott Shield, said, “Along with Semisi Kirikiti, we were the young ones in the 1965 team.”

“A lot of the guys were older than me, so it was a big surprise that I captained the team,” Naiduki recalls.

“It was probably because I was the longest-serving, but this was a team of individuals, so we didn’t talk much about the finer details. We just knew what to do.”

“We were considered the ‘dark horses’ in the Suva competition – nobody ever thought we’d win. The top teams then were Kadavu, Police and Army.

“But we had some good guys like Samu Lagilagi, Ilaitia Tuisese and of course, Vilikesa Mocelutu – all Fiji reps.

“That 1971 game was against the Police at

Buckhurst Park and we gave them a good hiding!”

“The other teams had a lot of fans. The Police had their wives for support. But for us it was just the old boys, and they were very quiet. Even then, we walloped them!

“Our coach had a very tough time dealing with us because the players liked to talk; they liked to analyse things for themselves during the games.

“However, we did have a lot of respect in the group. A few of us were around the same age but I think the youngest was Timoci Vakatawasa.”

As for the after-function, the so called ‘quiet Victorians’ showed their true colours celebrating the moment in a place they nicknamed the ‘Blue Corner’ – a nearby pub, still in business today as The Garrick at Honson Building.

Escott Shield Winners 1971 Back Row: P Gemmel, Vilisoni Cagimaivei, Apisalome Varea, Veiwili Komaitai, Timoci Vakatawasa Middle Row: Peni Waqa (Asst. Manager), I Waqa, Semi Lagilagi, Eroni Vakacegu, A Rokotuivuna, Semesa Sikivou, Tevita Naitini, Lepani Tale (secretary) Front Row: Ratu Tu’uakitau Cokanauto Cakobau, Isoa Gavidi, Vilikesa Mocelutu, Inoke Buadromo, Peni Qarau, U Tukana (coach), Ilaitia Tuisese, Josateki Radrodro, Kavekini Nalaga. Inset: Joe Bola, Samisoni Naiduki (captain), K Draunidalo, T Tagiadrau. Absent: V Waqa, Sitiveni N, Akiula Sova, A Vucago, Qoriniasi Bale, Andrew Thompson, Joe Turaganivalu

QVSOB players that played for Fiji (among others):
Josese Bale, Paula Bale, George Barley Mesake Biumaiwai Epi Bolawaqatabu Inoke Buadromo Aminisitai Burogolevu, Ratu E Cakobau, Ratu JK Cakobau, Joji Cavalevu, Bill Cavubati, Semisi Dakuiyaco Orisi Dawai, Rt Sir Penaia Ganilau, Inoke Kacilala, Aseri Kunawave Joape Kunikoro Sitiveni Ligamamada (Sitiveni Rabuka), Tomasi Lovo, Eremasi Lovodua Pita Matirewa, Jason McLennon, Vilikesa Mocelutu, Jese Mucunabitu, Aisake Nadolo, Jope Naucabalavu Sr, Jope Naucabalavu Jr, Inoke Nagatalevu, Naibukavuli, Kiniviliame Nalatu, Luke Namaqila, Mosese Natuilagilagi, Tevita Rabuli, Josateki Radrodro, Pauliasi Tabulutu Tevita Rabuli, Salasau, Semi Seruvakula, Peni Rika, Josefa Saukuru, Ilaitia Savai, Semesa Sikivou, Aca Soqosoqo, Mosese Taga, Inoke Tabualevu, Baniua Tanivukavu, Rt Cokanauto Tu’uakitau, Emori Tudia, Ilaitia Tuisese, Apakuki Tuitavua, Uliasi Tukana, Nacanieli Uluiviti, Taniela Uluiviti, Isoa Volavola, Sialeni Vuetaki, Viliame Waka, Isireli Waqa.