Rugby sevens: Sad end for sevens champ

Japan-bound Amasio Valence won't get the sort of send-off his stellar New Zealand sevens rugby career deserves.

Long-serving halfback Valence missed selection for the Commonwealth Games yesterday because of a knee injury that has dogged him since the start of the year.

Coach Gordon Tietjens confirmed last month's International Rugby Board tournament in Los Angeles was Valence's last as he is to take up a Japanese club contract shortly.

Valence recently denied rumours he was going, but Tietjens said the 26-year-old had made the decision to leave several months ago and was hoping to make his swansong at Melbourne this month.

"He's been a great servant for New Zealand rugby and what he's done for New Zealand sevens," Tietjens said.

"He will be missed, without a doubt.

"At his very best and his fittest, he has been the Serevi of New Zealand sevens teams. He's been one of the best players in the world."

Fijian-born playmaker Valence will appreciate the comparison with Fiji legend Waisale Serevi, regarding him as an idol as a youngster.

Valence became the first player to compete in 50 IRB tournaments at Los Angeles last month.

After making his debut as a 17-year-old at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998, Valence has been a constant in Tietjens' teams.

He won gold at Kuala Lumpur and at Manchester four years later, and was part of six IRB series-winning campaigns.

He is the third most prolific pointscorer in IRB history, behind England's Ben Gollings and Serevi and fifth on the try-scoring list.

"He was disappointed but he also understood that he has been struggling with a knee injury."

"You can't take anyone away to the Commonwealth Games who's only between 90 and 100 per cent fit. You need to be 100 per cent.

"He struggles with my trainings and when it came to a final call, I had to make it. I had to do what I believe was best for the team."

NZ Squad
Tafai Ioasa (Hawkes Bay, captain), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Sosene Anesi (Waikato), Liam Messam (Waikato), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Josh Blackie (Otago), Nigel Hunt (Wellington), Cory Jane (Wellington), Alfred Pelenise (Canterbury), Lote Raikabula (Wellington), Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a (Auckland).

-NZPA