NZ Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens knighted for services to rugby

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/8747868/Super-coach-Tietjens-honoured-with-knighthood

Long-standing (over 20 years) NZ 7s team coach Gordon Tietjens was one of 5 New Zealanders to be knighted/damed in NZ's Queen's Birthday Honours list. Over his 20 years in charge the NZ 7s team has consistently been THE team to beat on the 7s circuit, while at last count 38 of his charges had gone on to make the All Blacks, including the likes of Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen. He's been reknowned over that time for his attention to player nutrition, and for his brutally toough fitness sessions.

Well done Sir Gordon Tietjens KNZM.


1970s AB's winger & former Samoa coach Bryan Williams received a CNZ (an "upgrade" to his MBE*)



*NZ tweaked it's honours system a few years back, relabelling OBEs ans ONZs etc

It has often been mentioned about how hard a task master "Tich" is on his players in terms of not only their fitness but also their discipline and respecting the coach.

This is somewhat different to young "Tich" when he was a player for Bay of Plenty, when they were travelling to an away game once the team stayed at a one level hotel, "Tich" somehow got hold of a horse and locked it in the coaches room.

I don't think that's the politically correct term horse nowadays Laurie. I think it's minger.

An incredible record and rightly honoured.

Whores, horse, Hore, Hookers, bloody hell Im getting confused now

Im told it was the four legged version.

That's 2 mingers then...

Lucky coach...

Well done to him, he must statistically be the most successful rugby coach in the world?

In terms of titles won he'd definitely have to be right up there. Considering his best players often get scooped up by 15s his consistency is incredible. His knack for sporting young talent and his hard work ethic certainly helped. There was nowhere to hide on his training sessions. Except in the toilet afterwards to throw up.

Good luck to him...but i cant imagine being the coach of the AB's 7's team a massively difficult job...likewise the Fijian one.

Oh the AB's have taken a couple of my players...ill just pick another two off the conveyor belt of talent coming through....

It's not just the ABs Geordie nicking his players. The Supwr franchises sponge up his players. When you look at the turnover of players over the year he's done well to hold onto continuity and shape to his team. This idea that my granny could coach the ABs or sevens teams doesn't do justice to the talent and the systems set up to produce that talent. To get that consistency in performance you need a very good coach and Tich is that good as a coach.

Does one make any money out of a knighthood?

Biltong wrote:Does one make any money out of a knighthood?

You get to take your family to Government House for dinner when you pick up your gong*. Though you have to pay your own transport costs so ...



*A mate's Dad got afternoon tea for the family when he picked up his QSM (Queen's Service medal) so I presume they spring for dinner for a knighthood.

I'm sure Mick Jagger made some money. That crafty old sod never misses a trick to cash in...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Good luck to him...but i cant imagine being the coach of the AB's 7's team a massively difficult job...likewise the Fijian one.

Oh the AB's have taken a couple of my players...ill just pick another two off the conveyor belt of talent coming through....

Interesting Geordie, Eric Rush said recently that if Tich ever coached Fiji at sevens it would be the end of International sevens.....No one could ever beat them,

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Biltong wrote:Does one make any money out of a knighthood?

You get to take your family to Government House for dinner when you pick up your gong*. Though you have to pay your own transport costs so ...



*A mate's Dad got afternoon tea for the family when he picked up his QSM (Queen's Service medal) so I presume they spring for dinner for a knighthood.

Jetstar to Wellies from anywhere run at $19.00 a hop on occasion and $7.00 for the Flyer to Wellington station and a short stroll up Molesworth past the beehive to Teinakore road behind me here to Govt. house ought to do it...mind you...if it was about the money he'd be coaching the Chinese 7's side for the Olympics I hear for a price that could buy Govt house...

(plus did you see his daughter on the newsreel... )

The amount of times that NZ have won the 7's series. If any one deserves a knight hood he does.

I stand corrected then gents

Its well known in these parts that Tietjens is a ruthless taskmaster who bases his training around supreme fitness and the 7's type of schedling.

His view is that 7's is about getting players to peak while at pace over short periods of 15 mins or so several times in a weekend, every 2-3 weeks or so, over a few months.

This is completely different to conditioning players for 80 minutes once a week for 7-8 months of the year.

High intensity over short spells have made his trainings legendary for those who have had to endure them.

4 Commonwealth golds? wasnt completely aware of that...

I recall something from the NZ Rugby awards last year and Mose Cama wasnt interviewed while on stage and when asked something about having cake for his efforts he just commented something like..."no cake...train hard...still no cake from the boss"- his downtrodden look said it all for me.

Fair play to him. NZ 7s are nearly always the team to beat to win the Cup in any round.

He's still a miserable bugger tho'. Never looks happy.



Perfectionist, I guess.

Or maybe his exploits are never really appreciated by the over-demanding NZ public.

Hey guys, I won again.

Woah check out the ego. What do you want? A medal?

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Or maybe his exploits are never really appreciated by the over-demanding NZ public.

Hey guys, I won again.

Woah check out the ego. What do you want? A medal?

And dont come back until youve got an olympic gold.

I think I should apply for a Sirship.

Imagine me with my guttural truly Afrikaans name with a Sir in front of it.

BB - you want to become a member of high society in the UK???

If you move to the UK get a job as a lollypop man (the ones that guides schoolkids over busy roads)... stay in the job long enough and you'll get some sort of a national honour. Crazy but true.

Sir Biltong of Sandton.... I look forward to seeing you on top billing.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:That's 2 mingers then...