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DUBAI - Gordon Tietjens has hinted this season may not be his last as the national sevens rugby coach.
The most successful sevens coach of all time had been widely expected to hand over to former New Zealand captain Eric Rush when his contract expired at the end of the 2006-07 international series.
Tietjens said he hadn't made a final decision on whether to step down next year. Returning to Dubai to start another campaign had served only to fuel his passion for the game.
"I have a love for sevens rugby but it's also a real challenge and I've been here for a number of years.
"We will just see what happens at the end of the season and go from there. "
That task appears massive for the wily coach, who has a raw side with five new faces in his squad.
After relinquishing their stranglehold on the international series last season, (New Zealand finished fourth) for the first time, Tietjens' team now start in Dubai as underdogs. He said his biggest concern would be how quickly the side jelled.
"It's a massive challenge this year and to do well in the world series we have to start well in Dubai."
Defending champions England also have several new faces but are led by veteran Simon Amor and shape as the team to beat with reigning series champions Fiji and a strong South Africa.
The Dubai sevens is a sellout on both days. The stadium in the desert is built from scratch every year. It takes three months to assemble with seating for 30,000.
New Zealand start tonight against Wales followed by the Arabian Gulf and a probable pool decider against Samoa.
NZ POOL GAMES
v Wales 7.24pm (tonight, NZ time)
v Arabian Gulf 12.54am (tomorrow, NZ time)
- NZPA
