Gordon Tietjens, CNZM

New Zealand Order of Merit

The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...

 (born 9 December 1955) is the current coach of the New Zealand Sevens

New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)

The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...

 team. He is regarded as one of the most successful sevens coaches in the world.

Tietjens has helped to groom many young players who have gone on to become All Blacks for the 15-a-side version of rugby union. Rugby talents to have played in Sevens teams coached by Tietjens include Christian Cullen

Christian Cullen

Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...

, Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu

Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...

, Joe Rokocoko

Joe Rokocoko

Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko is a professional New Zealand rugby union player. Rokocoko is known for his speed and strength which has accounted for his prolific try strike rate...

, Mils Muliaina

Mils Muliaina

Junior Malili Muliaina , better known as Mils Muliaina, is a rugby union player. He plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and New Zealand at international level. He was born in Salesi, Samoa, then moved with his family to Invercargill, New Zealand, at the age of two...

 and Rico Gear

Rico Gear

Rico Levi Gear is a New Zealand rugby union international player. He is a specialist right wing but can also cover midfield positions. He currently plays for Kintetsu Liners in the Top League....

. As of June 2010 Tietjens has coached 36 players who have gone on to become All Blacks.

Tietjens is currently assisted by Eric Rush

Eric Rush

Eric James Rush is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and a Rugby Sevens legend, arguably one of the greatest Sevens players to grace the game...

, a former long-serving captain of the New Zealand Sevens team and a Sevens ex-player himself.