Rugby: Sevens rugby leader `in shock' as efforts recognised

By Peter Jessup

Gordon Tietjens has led New Zealand's dominating run in the evolving world of sevens rugby throughout the '90s.

Yet his reaction to being named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit was: "I'm in shock."

He was in good sporting company.

Also honoured with membership of the order, introduced in 1996, were world-beating cricketer Debbie Hockley, golden shooter Stephen Petterson, Olympic rower Rob Hamill and his Atlantic team-mate Phil Stubbs (deceased), and former Silver Ferns manager Monica Leggatt.

Test cricket umpire Fred Goodall received an even higher "gong," being appointed an officer of the order.

Tietjens should not have been bowled by recognition of his efforts after Hong Kong wins in 1994, '95 and '96 and New Zealand's 100th Commonwealth Games gold medal and rugby's first in 1998, along with a string of wins in tournaments from South America to Dubai.

While most are soaking up sun in the holiday period, he has been in camp with his national sevens squad in preparation for the early assault on the new season.

"I owe my family a lot. I have to thank them for the sacrifices they make to give me the time to do this," he said of wife Glenys, son Paul, aged 10, and daughter Kylie, 7.

And the time off he has been allowed by employer Bay Engineers Supplies does not bear thinking about.

"It's pretty hard in the coaching world. There are a lot of negatives, so the
positives like this are really appreciated. I rate this right up there with the Games medal," said Tietjens.

After six years with the national team he can look back on the kick-starts sevens gave the rugby careers of Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Caleb Ralph, Glen Osborne and other All Blacks, and of a second tier of top Super 12 players such as Rua Tipoki, Roger Randle, Damien Karuana and Rico Gear.

"The pace and vision required in sevens translates well to the 15-man game, I believe."

New Zealand team captain Debbie Hockley is widely acknowledged as the world's best female batsman. With 1301 runs in test cricket at an average 52, a 76 average from seven innings at the last World Cup and a domestic average of 127, she is in rarefied air, statistics-wise.

The 35-year-old is contracted to New Zealand and Canterbury cricket until the 2000 World Cup and, assuming no injury problems, will then have had 21 consecutive years in the national team.

Fred Goodall had 28 seasons in Canterbury cricket and went on to become New Zealand's most experienced test umpire.

Goodall was also a lieutenant-colonel in the Territorial Army and had a little-recognised athletics career, scoring wins in the javelin at masters' tournaments. He ended his career travelling the country to set up umpiring schools.

Petterson is equal-second on the all-time Kiwi Commonwealth Games gold medal winners list with Yvette Williams - their four being one off the record held by Val Young.

He has been to four Commonwealth and four Olympic Games, securing his first medals in the smallbore rifle pairs (gold) and individual (silver) in Auckland in 1990.

Then there were golds for the pairs and individual at Victoria, Canada, in 1994 and the individual at Kuala Lumpur this year. At the age of 41, he had intended retiring after KL but declared after taking his fourth gold that he would like to be back to defend it in 2002.

Monica Leggatt used to organise the Silver Ferns. Now she does the same job for touring teams and they just love her. Leggatt was president of Waikato netball for many years and went on to become a national executive member.

Also honoured with the MNZM was Christchurch soccer stalwart Ivan Billcliff.