The former New Zealand rugby sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens has signed on as the new head coach of the Samoa sevens.
Former New Zealand rugby sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens Photo: Photosport
The Samoa Rugby Union has confirmed the appointment at a press conference in Apia.
Tietjens will be aided by assistant coach Stephen Betham, with Ramsay Tomokino named as team manager.
He'll take charge of the side in January with Betham to control the side for the first two rounds of the World Series in Dubai and South Africa in December.
Tietjens met with the Samoa Rugby Union board last night, including Chairman and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, to finalise details of his contract.
Samoa rugby fans welcome the appointment of Sir Gordon Tietjens as Samoa Sevens coach. Photo: Photosport
Tietjens said: "I am hugely excited to be joining the boys in blue. Samoa Sevens has always represented their country with pride, passion and a great natural talent in rugby and I am massively motivated to help them achieve their goal to be a consistent top performer on the world stage. I have some commitments I need to complete before making the transition to Samoa, but this will be a great opportunity to watch some local rugby."
The 60-year-old spent 22 years in charge of the New Zealand sevens team, stepping down from the role in September after their fifth place finish at the Rio Olympics.
Tietjens is the most successful sevens coach of all time, leading 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.
The new World Sevens Series kicks off in Dubai in December.
-RNZ
