New Zealand Sevens take World Series with one to go

New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has commended his team after they claimed the HSBC Sevens World Series at the London tournament overnight.

New Zealand’s World Series win was confirmed after they beat Argentina in the quarter final.  New Zealand lost the subsequent semifinal against a strong Fijian side and South Africa defeated Fiji 24 – 14 in the Final at Twickenham.

Tietjens said the team was delighted to have secured their ninth Sevens World Series title.

“We didn’t play as well as we had previously and that might be due to the massive break between tournaments, so we were probably feeling a little rusty.  But the guys have put in a lot of hard work, and they can hold their heads high.  We’re really pleased to come away with the Series, and I’m very proud of the team,” he said.

The team now focusses on the last leg of the Series in Edinburgh on 28 and 29 May.

“It really is a great feeling going into the next tournament knowing we have secured the Series, but we will be very determined to come back and finish the year on a high,” Tietjens said.

On the injury front, Bryce Heem from Auckland has been ruled out of the Edinburgh tournament and he will be replaced by Rory Grice from Waikato.

Edinburgh tournament (all times are local)

28 May
New Zealand v Russia, 10.30am
New Zealand v France, 1.36pm
New Zealand v Argentina, 5.43pm

29 May
Finals day

Note to media:  The first of the players to return home after the Edinburgh tournament, will arrive in New Zealand 1 June.   Details of their arrival will be advised.