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So we hear Sir Gordon Tietjens is flying into Victoria #yyj tomorrow, that's even more impressive than the royal visit - where's our invite? — BC Rugby News (@BCRugbyNews) September 25, 2016

Following the 7s All Blacks’ disastrous tournament in Rio, Tietjens and New Zealand Rugby agreed it was time to part ways.

He has since heard from the Kenya and Samoa Rugby Unions, but according to Radio New Zealand didn’t hold formal talks. Rugby Canada officials flew to New Zealand for an initial discussion. Tietjens will fly to Victoria this week for further talks.

It’s not known how many other coaches are still in the mix, but there’s at least one more.

Photo by NEIL SANDS / AFP/Getty Images

It’s also possible Tietjens is applying for another job — he did say in his departure press conference from NZ Rugby that he didn’t think he could ever coach against New Zealand and imagined a future as a consultant was more likely. There is the still-vacant High Performance manager job, one that’s been empty since Steve Lancaster left for Netball New Zealand in late 2014; perhaps he’s interviewing for that job.

Liam Middleton was dismissed as men’s sevens coach in July after the Canadians failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

Radio silence from players and management

World Rugby-mediated talks between the men’s sevens squad and management took place this past week. At issue is the financial status of the program.

Both sides were asked for comment Friday on the state of talks but neither side responded.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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