Rugby: No violence, says Tietjens

By CHRIS RATTUE

MANCHESTER - Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens says there will be no repeat of the world series violence at the Manchester Games.

The Commonwealth Games represents a profile peak for sevens rugby, and the International Rugby Board is trying to get it included in the Olympics.

The violence that marred a couple of matches involving the New Zealand team this year was among the worst seen on a rugby field for some time.

And all hell could break loose if there is a repeat at a multisport gathering supposedly into peace and goodwill, and dubbed the Friendly Games.

Matches against Fiji in Chile and Samoa in Singapore turned ugly, but Tietjens said that was a thing of the past.

"It hasn't even had to be mentioned," he said.

"The players know the sort of damage those games caused.

"Sevens is all about being a spectator sport and we want to keep it that way. I would be very surprised if you saw that sort of thing again."

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Commonwealth Games info and related links