Dubai: Sir Gordon Tietjens, the coach of the New Zealand All Blacks Sevens team, is eager to forget last year’s disappointing finish and start the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with a bang.
New Zealand have been the overall winners of 12 of the 16 Series editions so far and the team is looking forward to a successful tournament early next month in Dubai — the first leg of the new series.
Tietjens said: “We love the atmosphere in Dubai. It’s a wonderful stadium and we get great support there, so it’s always a very special tournament for us.
“This year is the first tournament of the new season and we aim to do well. It’s a very competitive World Series and we were a little disappointed to finish third last season. Fiji deserved to win and played particularly well.”
He added: “The challenge for us is to start the World Series well and that means winning in Dubai. I always maintain that to do well in the Series, you have to start well right at the beginning, so it’s important we’re prepared for Dubai. It’s been a long time since we have won in Dubai, so it would be a great start to the season for us to win the first tournament.”
Tietjens’ men will face the United States, France and Portugal in Pool C at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, with the USA a particularly strong opponent having won the final leg of the 2014-15 World Series in London.
In the past three years, the Eagles have gone from strength to strength, bringing in former American football players and sprinters to give them one of the most athletic sides in the competition.
The All Blacks Sevens have a new captain for the series who too is looking for a great start.
Scott Curry has taken over from veteran DJ Forbes, who has chosen to focus on getting his body in the best possible shape to help his chances of making the Olympic team.
Several of the All Blacks’ Test squad, including Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam, will also switch to sevens ahead of next year’s Rio Olympics.
Tickets for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens can be purchased online at www.dubairugby7s.com or at selected Costa, MMI, Go Sport and dnata outlets, Bidi Bondi, The Sevens Stadium and Park n Shop.
Visitors to the event also have the option of reserving their seats. Reserved seating, premium seating and corporate hospitality packages are also available through the official website.
