Rugby: Suasua takes on sevens

Former women's team coach Darryl Suasua has been appointed coach of the New Zealand women's sevens side for the 2009 rugby World Cup in Dubai.

Both the men's and women's cup tournaments will be staged in Dubai from March 5-7 at a new venue called The Sevens.

Suasua coached the Black Ferns for seven years during which they won the 1998 and 2002 World Cups (15s), as well as the Canada Cup in 1996 and 2000.

He was Counties-Manukau assistant coach in 2005 and the province's technical adviser in the Air New Zealand Cup in 2006 and 2007.

It will be the first time a women's sevens World Cup has been staged.