The most decorated coach in the history of rugby sevens.

Since Gordon Tietjens took charge in 1994, New Zealand have won two Rugby World Cup Sevens titles (2001 and 2013), four consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010) and 12 World Rugby Sevens Series titles, including six in a row between 2000 and 2005.

Under his stewardship sevens has also provided the launch pad for the All Blacks careers of stars such as Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Mils Muliaina, Rodney So’oialo and Julian Savea.  

In 2012 ‘Titch’ became the first sevens coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He capped that off by being knighted for his services to the game in 2013.

Tietjens previously coached Bay of Plenty from 1996-2002. As a player he was a member of the first New Zealand sevens side at the 1983 Hong Kong Sevens, and played in the back row for Bay of Plenty and Waikato.