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New Zealand Sevens coach, Gordon Tietjens, has reportedly turned down an offer to take up a coaching role in South Africa's Port Elizabeth, where he would have been linked to the Southern Kings and Mighty Elephants.

Tietjens and New Zealand's most capped scrumhalf, Justin Marshall, have been linked to a move to Port Elizabeth ahead of this year's Currie Cup.

Tietjens confirmed he had spoken with Eastern Province officials but would not be available because South Africa's domestic competition coincides with New Zealand's preparations for the defence of their Commonwealth Games Sevens title in India.

"I've had brief discussions, there's nothing permanent," Tietjens told NZPA from Adelaide, where New Zealand contest the fifth round of the IRB Sevens World Series from Friday.

"It won't happen because it clashes with Commonwealth Games preparations."

Tietjens, who is off contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union after October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, said the Eastern Province Rugby Union envisaged an advisory role - not the position of head coach.

The EPRU - who play as the Mighty Elephants in the First Division, the second tier of provincial competition in South Africa - hope to gain promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division and eventually join an expanded Super Rugby competition as the Southern Kings.

They lost out to the Melbourne Rebels when SANZAR, the sport's southern hemisphere controlling body, added another franchise for next year's Super 15.

With Sevens an Olympic sport from 2016 in Rio, Tietjens has also been contacted from from United States and China about potential roles.

For now Tietjens' is concentrating on New Zealand maintain their series lead at the Adelaide Oval, where the Kiwis are surprisngly winless.

"We were talking about it today, we've been in the final and were beaten by South Africa and beaten last year in the quarter final by South Africa so it hasn't been a happy hunting ground for us," he said.

"Hopefully we take it a game at a time, play six finals and get the Adelaide title."

New Zealand won the first two legs in Dubai and South Africa but were eliminated by Samoa in the semifinals at Wellington before Samoa beat them in the Las Vegas final.

"They know the game inside out and have very good players in Mikaele Pesamino and Uale Mai," Tietjens told NZPA.

"Like us they've been in three finals, we're probably the form teams at the moment."

Raikabula out for NZ

Experienced utility player Lote Raikabula has been forced to withdraw from the New Zealand squad through injury. In his absence Leka Tupuola from Wellington has been drafted in.

With 33 tournaments under his belt, Raikabula is the most experienced member of New Zealand's wider Sevens squad, while Tupuola yet to make an appearance on the circuit. New Zealand are also missing their leading try-scorer from this season Sherwin Stowers.  

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Mr Sevens' - UR7s exclusive with New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens - Part 1

Mr Sevens' - UR7s exclusive with New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens - Part 2

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