All Blacks 7s coach, Sir Gordon Tietjens is appealing for New Zealand to centralize its men's sevens rugby programme or risk being surpassed by better‑resourced nations.
Just a day out from their inaugural Olympic campaign in Rio, Tietjens says it is obvious other teams have closed the gap on 12‑time world series champions, New Zealand since sevens was added to the Games programme.
The NZ sevens team has finished behind champions Fiji and South Africa in each of the last two world series.
Several other nations have made headway following the introduction of a centralized, sevens‑focused approach, with the United States the most obvious example.
While New Zealand Rugby offers specific sevens contracts, their time together is limited to short, pre‑tournament camps.
Tietjens says that is not enough to keep up.
He says one has to eat, breathe and sleep it because with their players scattered all around the country, it makes it difficult.
Tietjens even expects some countries, such as Kenya, to drop 15‑a‑side rugby from their programme altogether to focus on sevens.
He says he has petitioned NZ Rugby on the subject for some time and expects a breakthrough within the next two years.
The 60‑year‑old says the recent growth of sevens has even exceeded his own expectations.
He says it can now be a legitimate career option in New Zealand while remaining a pathway for players with Super Rugby and All Blacks aspirations.
Source: Stuff.co
