Slumping sevens worry NZR boss

"There's no doubt the depth of talent we have available for the sevens ... is challenging for us." Steve Tew

There are some things even New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew does not have the answer to.

Just how to run a successful international sevens programme in conjunction with a world-leading XVS setup might just be near the top of that list.

Tew spoke positively about yesterday’s decision that the New Zealand leg of World Rugby’s international sevens circuit would be shifting from Wellington to Hamilton when cornered on the subject at the Auckland announcement of the new sponsorship deal with Vodafone.

That he was comfortable to pass judgment on.

But when asked about another sub-par performance by the New Zealand men’s sevens side, bombing out in the final tournament in London in embarrassing fashion to finish fourth overall on the series standings, Tew was more equivocal.

The Kiwis got it badly wrong in London when they blew a 21-0 lead in their quarterfinal against Scotland and at one stage were penalised for having eight players on the field. They then went on to be belted 40-7 by Australia in the playoff for fifth.

This followed their failure to earn a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics when New Zealand finished outside the medals in fifth place, after losing three times through the tournament.

‘‘I think we’re all concerned, aren’t we?’’ he said. ‘‘This has not been the series we would have wanted.’’

Asked if it was a harsh reality that you could not rule the world in both the sevens and XVS games, Tew said it was a ‘‘well-phrased question’’.

‘‘There’s no doubt the depth of talent we have available for the sevens, in Olympic year and outside of Olympic year, is challenging for us,’’ he replied.