Tietjens striving for success with Samoa challenge

Rotorua's Sir Gordon Tietjens has a momentous challenge ahead in 2017 with the Samoa sevens side. PHOTO/ FILE

It's been a year of poignant goodbyes but also new beginnings for arguably the nation's most successful coach - Sir Gordon Tietjens.

Samoa's head coach, originally from Rotorua but now based in Tauranga, has grand plans for his new side in the new year - aiming to make strides at the 2016-17 HSBC Sevens World Series and qualify for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with the long-term aim of reaching the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Tietjens will be relieved to take up his role on January 1 after missing the first two World Series events in Dubai and South Africa because of New Zealand Rugby contractual obligations.

With the side under-performing at both tournaments, Tietjens admits there is "much to do" but he is relishing the challenge as he targets the side's fitness and nutrition plan as key areas for improvement.

"It was the right time to for me to make a change and 22 years of expectation on my shoulders from New Zealand Rugby was lifted overnight. It wasn't hard to step down and I'm looking forward to this challenge with Samoa because the expectations are certainly different," he said.

"It won't be a quick fix - there are a lot of areas which they will have to make huge shifts in. They're mainly centred around nutrition and obviously fitness - which are so vital to the game of sevens.

"A lot of planning is in place and I'm sure if we make those changes there will be a lot of benefits on the way. They need to compete at the World Series and moving on from there I want to take them to the Commonwealth Games and be successful there.

"But long term the challenge is to get them to the Olympics. Unfortunately, Samoa's season this year was defined by them not qualifying for Rio 2016. When they missed that they were devastated, that's something I will look to avoid."

The Samoa squad will travel to Mount Maunganui for intense training camps throughout January.

Tietjens will also field a Barbarians team in the 2017 provincial sevens tournament in the area on January 7- the Blake Park tournament will be used as a selection tournament ahead of the HSBC Wellington Sevens at the end of that month.

"Of course Christmas Day will be one for them to share with their families. Players may decide to have the odd treat here and there and I certainly hope they do but then after that day it's about getting back to work," said Tietjens.

"It's about getting these young Samoan boys up and running and prepare them. It's important the players turn up and they know they will all be competing for spots to play in Wellington."

In Tietjens' 22 years as coach, New Zealand won four Commonwealth Games gold medals, two Rugby World Cup sevens titles and 12 World Series titles.

After offers from Canada, Kenya and interest from Fiji, Tietjens said he decided to take on the Samoa challenge to fulfil a life-long coaching dream.

"There is confusion around me stepping down from New Zealand," he said. "For them [New Zealand Rugby] it was me retiring but that wasn't the case. I've always had a bit of a dream to be involved with a Pacific Island team and try and assist some new younger players become better rugby players.

"Certainly they aren't as hugely resourced as New Zealand is and working with the people from the islands is always a real challenge," he said. "But the short time I've been with them I've certainly enjoyed every minute of it. The boys are totally respectful, they want to do well. If the hard work is put in hopefully the results will start happening for them.

"They know they need to make these changes and that's the excitement of the challenge. They really struggle for resources and equal opportunities and to be able to provide those from a sporting perspective and make a difference. would be awesome."