Sir Gordon Tietjens

7s super coach to attend POM fundraiser

A veteran of 22 seasons, Tietjens is regarded as New Zealand’s and the sport’s most successful coach.

He has coached well over 100 international Sevens Tournaments since taking over the New Zealand sides in 1994.

Under Tietjens, the All Blacks Sevens team has become the most successful in the world, winning four Commonwealth games gold medals, 11 HSBC World Series Sevens titles including the 2012/2013 series, and two IRB Sevens World Championship titles in 2001 and in 2013.

Samoa expect stiff competition in Cape Town

Tietjens' side will take on defending series champions Fiji and Wales and Canada in pool play.

Fiji lost to South Africa in the Dubai sevens semi-finals last week while Wales and Canada had disappointing tournaments.

Samoa finished in sixth place and look to have made improvements from last season.

But Tietjens said he expects their group to provide stiff opposition.

"Canada is going to to be really tough, they are disappointed with their last tournament. Obviously they will want to get a few points on the board."

Samoa coach Tietjens still sets title win as target

This year, the renowned 61-year-old returns to the Republic as coach of the less-fancied Samoa side - and he believes his charges have a shot at winning the April 15-16 Singapore leg.

All because, he reasoned, the nature of today's sevens game means "on any given day, any team can beat any team".

Experienced trio make welcome return to Samoa 7s

Former captain Faalemiga Selesele is back on the World Series, after impressing at the Brisbane Global Tens, while Afa Aiono has recovered from injury and assumes the captaincy, freeing up Tila Mealoi to focus on playing.

Alex Samoa has also forced his way into the team for the first time this season.

The Manu are a lowly 13th after the first four rounds of the World Series and Sir Gordon Tietjens said the addition of some seasoned campaigners is a timely boost.

Tietjens: "I am motivated to give something back to the game"

As far as CVs go in the world of rugby sevens, Sir Gordon Tietjens' sits top of the pile. There is no head coach out there with more experience of the game.

Tietjens already making his mark with Samoa

The former New Zealand mentor has been appointed Samoa's sixth permanent coach in as many years but doesn't officially take charge until January.

He was listed as a "technical advisor" during the team's runner-up finish at last month's Oceania 7s and is with the team in Dubai this week as an "observer".

Assistant coach Stephen Betham, who led the Manu to the 2010 World Series title, said Tietjens had been heavily involved with their preparation.

Tietjens reveals why not Fiji

Sir Tietjens, who has been appointed the Samoan 7s team coach, revealed this in an interview with this newspaper last night.

"They were already at the top, they are already the best team in the world," he said, referring to the Fiji 7s team.

He made the comments in response to questions by this newspaper that have lingered in the minds of all Fijians where at one point he was rumoured to be one of the contenders for the Fiji 7s team coach.

New coach says no quick fix to Samoan sevens team

Samoan sevens will make his work much more enjoyable.

However, he admits that building championship teams won’t happen overnight.

“I can assure you it’s going to take a gradual amount of time to get the players you need, talent identification and then get out there and perform,” he said.

“And it’s not a quick fix but I can assure you as well, that you’ll see massive improvements,” he added.

Tietjens was named coach in Apia last Friday.

Fuimaono-Sapolu on Tietjens joining Samoa

This follows after the 60-year-old stepped down from his role as the All Blacks Sevens coach last month after a 22-year stint.

During that time, New Zealand won four Commonwealth Games gold medals, 12 World Rugby Sevens Series titles and two Sevens World Championship titles.

Planet Rugby’s David Skipper caught up with former Samoa, Bath, Gloucester, Coca-Cola Red Sparks centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, who is now working as a lawyer in Samoa, to talk on his views on Tietjens’ appointment and the state of the game in Samoa.

Tietjens confirms move to Samoa

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.

Tietjens met with the Samoa Rugby Union board last night, including Chairman and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, to finalise details of his contract.

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.