Gordon Tietjens has taken on a new challenge in Samoa after 22 trophy-laden years as coach of New Zealand's rugby sevens team.
Gordon Tietjens has taken on a new challenge in Samoa after 22 trophy-laden years as coach of New Zealand's rugby sevens team.
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Tietjens' New Zealand team won the Sevens World Series a record 12 times, including the first six seasons the competition was held.
Tietjens' New Zealand team won the Sevens World Series a record 12 times, including the first six seasons the competition was held.
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He also led the All Blacks Sevens to four successive gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, from 1998 to 2010.
He also led the All Blacks Sevens to four successive gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, from 1998 to 2010.
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Tietjens gave a teenage Jonah Lomu his international debut in the sevens team before the giant winger moved up to the 15-a-side game and became a superstar following his blockbusting performances at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
Tietjens gave a teenage Jonah Lomu his international debut in the sevens team before the giant winger moved up to the 15-a-side game and became a superstar following his blockbusting performances at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
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Lomu, right, was part of the team that triumphed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Lomu, right, was part of the team that triumphed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
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Tietjens, pictured with his wife Julia, was knighted for his services to rugby in 2013. When asked if he wanted to be called "Sir," he replied that he preferred to be known by his nickname "Titch." Local media dubbed him "Sir Titch."
Tietjens, pictured with his wife Julia, was knighted for his services to rugby in 2013. When asked if he wanted to be called "Sir," he replied that he preferred to be known by his nickname "Titch." Local media dubbed him "Sir Titch."
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He started coaching the NZ Sevens team in 1994, when rugby was still an amateur sport.
He started coaching the NZ Sevens team in 1994, when rugby was still an amateur sport.
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Born in Rotorua, he played for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato provinces. He spent six years coaching BoP from 1996-2002 (pictured) alongside his international duties.
Born in Rotorua, he played for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato provinces. He spent six years coaching BoP from 1996-2002 (pictured) alongside his international duties.
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As well as dominating the world series until 2014, New Zealand also won two of the five Sevens World Cups played during his reign, in 2001 and 2013, and lost in the 2005 final.
As well as dominating the world series until 2014, New Zealand also won two of the five Sevens World Cups played during his reign, in 2001 and 2013, and lost in the 2005 final.
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However, his final tournament ended in disappointment, as New Zealand lost to eventual champion Fiji in the quarterfinals of the Rio 2016 Olympics and failed to win a medal.
However, his final tournament ended in disappointment, as New Zealand lost to eventual champion Fiji in the quarterfinals of the Rio 2016 Olympics and failed to win a medal.
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Tietjens takes over a Samoa team whose only world series title was in the 2009-10 season. Here Mikaele Pesamino (C) and Paul Chan Tung (R) celebrate with the trophy after beating New Zealand in the Hong Kong Sevens final.
Tietjens takes over a Samoa team whose only world series title was in the 2009-10 season. Here Mikaele Pesamino (C) and Paul Chan Tung (R) celebrate with the trophy after beating New Zealand in the Hong Kong Sevens final.
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Coached last season by Englishman Damian McGrath, Samoa won the Paris Sevens tournament -- beating Fiji in the final -- but finished ninth in the world series and failed to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Coached last season by Englishman Damian McGrath, Samoa won the Paris Sevens tournament -- beating Fiji in the final -- but finished ninth in the world series and failed to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
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Tietjens told CNN's World Rugby show that his "big challenge" will be taking Samoa to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Tietjens told CNN's World Rugby show that his "big challenge" will be taking Samoa to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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