Support builds for NZI Sevens in Capital

Support is already building for Wellington to remain the venue for the NZI Sevens.

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens has joined the chorus of people calling for the capital to stay as the tournament's host city, saying he would be "staggered" if it was to lose the tournament.

Tietjens was one of several leading figures to show his support after the capital missed out on a bid to secure permanent hosting rights for the two-day world series tournament beyond next year.

Instead, the tournament will be put out to tender. There has already been interest from Auckland, though NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said it would be "an incredibly long shot for anyone to outbid Wellington".

Tietjens, speaking after his team lost the semifinal against Samoa, said he would be disappointed if the event went elsewhere.

"They do such a good job, and look at the crowd [35,000] we've got out there, it's magnificent," he said.

"I'd be very, very disappointed if Wellington was to lose it."

IRB tournament operations manager Beth Coalter said the decision on which city would host the sevens was the NZRU's to make, but she made it clear the IRB had long viewed Wellington as one of its flagship tournaments.

"Well, there is a saying that if it ain't broke, why fix it?," Ms Coalter said. "Again, you have to be fair and see if there are other ideas unions can come up with, but you have the perfect setting here, people can walk into town, it's a beautiful harbour, you've got a great stadium and staff who know how everything works.

"That takes a few years to establish. Each tournament is unique but for [Wellington] to sell out within three minutes, you can't say that isn't up there with the best there is."

Fiji coach Iliesa Tanivula, who led his team to a 19-14 win against Samoa in Saturday's final, said his players always looked forward to the Wellington tournament.

"In the last 10 years Wellington has been great to all the overseas teams. We go back home with fond memories, of the rugby and all the costumes."

Wellington's biggest dress-up party was a roaring success for everyone – except the 100 or so who ended up in the cells.

Sevens general manager Steve Walters said he was impressed by the number of people who stayed even after New Zealand got knocked out in the semis.

"Looking around the stadium and at the turnstiles, it wasn't a big exodus, and there was some great chanting for both Fiji and Samoa."

Police said there were no major incidents over the weekend, with the majority of those arrested facing charges for disorderly behaviour, fighting or liquor ban breaches.

Forty-two people were arrested at the event itself over the two days of rugby, from a total pool of 73,000 fans.

Instead, the tournament will be put out to tender. There has already been interest from Auckland, though NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said it would be "an incredibly long shot for anyone to outbid Wellington".

Tietjens, speaking after his team lost the semifinal against Samoa, said he would be disappointed if the event went elsewhere.

"They do such a good job, and look at the crowd [35,000] we've got out there, it's magnificent," he said.

"I'd be very, very disappointed if Wellington was to lose it."

IRB tournament operations manager Beth Coalter said the decision on which city would host the sevens was the NZRU's to make, but she made it clear the IRB had long viewed Wellington as one of its flagship tournaments.

"Well, there is a saying that if it ain't broke, why fix it?," Ms Coalter said. "Again, you have to be fair and see if there are other ideas unions can come up with, but you have the perfect setting here, people can walk into town, it's a beautiful harbour, you've got a great stadium and staff who know how everything works.

"That takes a few years to establish. Each tournament is unique but for [Wellington] to sell out within three minutes, you can't say that isn't up there with the best there is."

Fiji coach Iliesa Tanivula, who led his team to a 19-14 win against Samoa in Saturday's final, said his players always looked forward to the Wellington tournament.

"In the last 10 years Wellington has been great to all the overseas teams. We go back home with fond memories, of the rugby and all the costumes."

Wellington's biggest dress-up party was a roaring success for everyone – except the 100 or so who ended up in the cells.

Sevens general manager Steve Walters said he was impressed by the number of people who stayed even after New Zealand got knocked out in the semis.

"Looking around the stadium and at the turnstiles, it wasn't a big exodus, and there was some great chanting for both Fiji and Samoa."

Police said there were no major incidents over the weekend, with the majority of those arrested facing charges for disorderly behaviour, fighting or liquor ban breaches.

Forty-two people were arrested at the event itself over the two days of rugby, from a total pool of 73,000 fans.

Sourced by: stuff.co.nz