COMMONWEALTH GAMES COACHING COMBATANTS LOCK HORNS AGAIN FOR GOLD COAST SEVENS
Rugby Sevens, October 13: Delhi Commonwealth Games rugby sevens coaching combatants, New Zealand's legendary Gordon Tietjens and his Australian counterpart, dual international Michael O'Connor will again lock horns when the Gold Coast hosts the Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens on November 13 and 14.
Tietjens' New Zealanders kept their 12-year Commonwealth Games reign in tact with a 24-17 come-from-behind win over O'Connor's Australians in an exciting Commonwealth Games gold medal match at the Delhi University last night.
The Australians looked set for a massive upset when James Standard raced under the posts to score a converted try and to stretch the Australian lead to 17-7 with seven minutes remaining.
But two late tries to the never-say-die Kiwis saw them sink Australia's gold medal hopes leaving O'Connor's men to lament what might have been in a brave silver medal performance - their best ever Commonwealth Games performance.
New Zealand, Australia and reigning IRB World Series champions Samoa will all field teams in next month's 20-strong men's tournament at Albert Park, Surfers Paradise.
The two-day rugby extravaganza will also feature an eight-team women's tournament, with members of Australia's reigning World Cup winning team amongst the line-ups.
O'Connor is likely to field several members of his brave Delhi Games silver-medal winning squad in his Aussie Spirit team as he prepares his team for the opening IRB Sevens World Series round in Dubai in December.
Tietjens will unleash a host of new talent in his Emerging New Zealand team as he plots New Zealand's path for the his assault on the up-coming IRB World Series campaign.
Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens tournament director Luca Liussi was in Delhi for the Games as Australia's team manager and felt the pain of the Aussie defeat.
"The boys were gutted at the end of an energy-sapping two days and a gripping final that saw us with a chance of snatching victory," said Liussi.
"But at the end of the day it was our best Games performance and New Zealand showed why they are one of the best teams in the world - they are never beaten.
"But we are now looking forward to getting home and preparing a squad to showcase the game of Sevens on the Gold Coast for the second successive year in the Hyperion tournament.
"It will be great to have teams from Australia, New Zealand and Samoa on the Gold Coast alongside teams from Papua New Guinea and Fiji as well as teams from the Super 15 franchises.
"It will give the Gold Coast community the chance to come out an experience the Sevens first hand. I'm sure it will be a wonderful weekend of rugby."
With Fiji banned from the Commonwealth Games, three Fijian combinations, defending champions South Sea Drifters, Air Pacific Global Waimanu and Davetalevu, will all be keen to make their presence felt.
Among other international teams confirmed are the Arabian Gulf Barbarians (Arabian Gulf), Niue Wanderers (Niue Rugby Union), International Samurais (UK/NZ), PNG Southern Chiefs (PNG), MMI Kimbe Rebels (PNG), the Taranaki Academy (NZ) as well as Super 14 teams Queensland Reds 7s (Queensland Rugby Union), the Force 7s (WA Rugby Union) and the NSW Jnr Waratah 7s (NSW Rugby Union),
The confirmed women's teams are: Defending champions Eastsyde Brisbane (QLD), Samurai International (Australia), PNG Southern Chiefs (PNG), Sunnybank Women's (QLD), Gold Coast Academy (QLD) and PNG Defence Women's Rugby (PNG).
CONFIRMED TEAMS FOR THE HYPERION GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL SEVENS
MEN -
Samoa 7s Samoa Rugby Football Union, Emerging New Zealand New Zealand Rugby Football Union, Aussie Spirit Australian Rugby Union, Arabian Gulf Barbarians Arabian Gulf Rugby Union, Niue Wanderers Niue Rugby Union, PNG Aroma Coast Papua New Guinea Rugby Union, Queensland Reds 7s Queensland Rugby Union, Force 7s Western Australian Rugby Union, NSW Jr Waratah 7s New South Wales Rugby Union, Taranaki Academy New Zealand, South Sea Drifters Fiji, International Samurais UK / New Zealand, Air Pacific Global Waimanu Fiji, PNG Southern Chiefs Papua New Guinea, Davetalevu Fiji, MMI Kimbe Rebels Papua New Guinea, Lloyd McDermott Australia, Gold Coast Breakers Australia, Sunnybank Australia, 20th team TBC
WOMEN -
Eastsyde Brisbane Australia, Samurai International Australia, PNG Southern Chiefs Papua New Guinea, Sunnybank Women's Australia, Gold Coast Academy Australia, PNG Defence Women's Rugby Papua New Guinea, Arongatahi Women's 7's New Zealand, Wests Women's Bulldogs Australia