Tietjens resigns as Bay of Plenty coach

Gordon Tietjens has resigned as Bay of Plenty coach to concentrate on his job as the national sevens coach.

Tietjens said yesterday that he could not perform both jobs properly and it was time to give one away.

He has chosen to guide the New Zealand team through the World Sevens Series, which begins next month, and next August's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

New Zealand won the gold medal in the sevens at the 1998 Games in Malaysia and are the defending champions of the world series.

Tietjens said the sevens season clashed with NPC preparations, including club rugby, and it was better for someone else to take charge of Bay of Plenty.

He said the union's aim had been to keep its place in the first division, and with that achieved, it could now prepare for next season.

"With the Commonwealth Games, particularly, and the World Series, it clashed with all the pre-season games prior to the NPC and I think it's only fair, now that they're in first division, that they can prepare it so it's a fulltime position."

Tietjens has been head coach at Bay of Plenty for five years.

- NZPA