5 Sep 2016

Full-time for Tietjens?

6:09 pm on 5 September 2016

The end of rugby sevens coaching guru Sir Gordon Tietjens' reign as national coach appears to be nigh.

All Black Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens

Sir Gordon Tietjens has coached the New Zealand men's rugby sevens side for 23 years. Photo: Photosport

New Zealand Rugby has scheduled a news conference for tomorrow morning in Wellington, which Tietjens and chief executive Steve Tew will attend.

The All Blacks Sevens were a major disappointment at the recent Rio Olympics - failing to win a medal and being generally lacklustre in their play.

At Rio, Tietjens, 60, refused to discuss his future after the Olympics but, after 23 years in charge of the national side, his time might now be up.

Tietjens has taken New Zealand to four Commonwealth Games gold medals (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010), two World Cups (2001 and 2013), and 12 of the 17 world series crowns.

He was knighted in 2013.

New Zealand rugby sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens.

New Zealand rugby sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens. Photo: RNZ Barry Guy

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