Rugby sevens has a habit of producing awe inspiring moments. Giant killings. Incredible displays of athleticism. Jaw dropping skill. Back in 1996, anyone lucky enough to be at the Hong Kong Sevens would be able to testify to this.
Fresh faced and keen to impress on the world stage, New Zealand’s Christian Cullen was about to leave an everlasting mark on the tournament. Replacing the injured Adrian Cashmore, Cullen had been called up to the starting line up in Gordon Tietjens’ formidable New Zealand outfit. By the end of the weekend Cullen had scored 18 tries and seven in one match against Sri Lanka, which to this day is still a record. The Paekakariki Express had arrived.
“That tournament is still to this day my best memory from my sevens days,” said HSBC Sport ambassador Cullen. “Getting to score 18 tries in a tournament as prestigious as Hong Kong was an honour for me and it was amazing to get involved in such a great team. That final against Fiji was something else, a real battle and great occasion for all of us.”
Normally Cullen’s name is synonymous with 15s. His 85 caps for the Hurricanes. His 58 caps for the All Blacks. His countless individual tries. However his legacy in sevens, although he only played five tournaments, is of great renown. Having taken a couple of years off to ply his trade in 15s, Cullen then returned for the 1998 edition of the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. An easy transition back into sevens? Nine tries, 23 conversions and a gold medal suggests so.
“The Commonwealth Games gold was another huge moment for us. I had been off for a couple of years with 15s and had lost a bit of fitness but in general it was OK. The real struggle for me came in 2000 when I was called up to Wellington. The game had changed. I was playing 15s a lot and that was a tough, tough transition. I had about a week and a half of training and just got into it.”
The influx of 15s players into sevens this year with the Olympics on the horizon brings its own challenges for those new to the game. Two matches per day for three days at the Olympics is a format that Cullen thinks will suit the newcomers to the sport though and the attritional nature of sevens.
“It’s probably going to suit the guys coming in with the shorter format each day,” he said. “The tournaments we used to play in you could end up playing six games in two days if you reached the final which is tough for the guys involved. The three day format you can manage your injuries better, your recovery better.
“The Olympics will be interesting, two games in a day, you can almost just bang it out. You have your first game in the morning then have that rest. You will still need the fitness and as Gordon Tietjens has said already these 15s guys need tournaments. The boys are almost the same body shape as each other now, all of them are serious athletes. Back in the day there were all types of body shapes. Now the forwards are as fast as the backs. Guys like Sonny Bill, ball in hand will be awesome, but defensively it will be a big challenge. One on one with a light guy, lightning step, will be hard for anyone coming into it.”
Living just 40 minutes from Wellington, Cullen has a real love for the tournament and the city. He still has business interests in Wellington and is on commentary duties over the weekend, so is expecting an exciting couple of days.
“Wellington has been great over the years with some iconic moments in sevens,” he said. “All the teams are now so competitive and it will be interesting to see how some of the 15s guys do across the tournament. The New Zealand team look in good shape and there are plenty of talented players so it will be good to see how they go.”
Being so close to the sport still, World Rugby couldn’t help but ask whether he misses it or whether retired life is enough for the former All Black star?
“When you retire you miss the game and miss running out,” said Cullen. “You miss the buzz but I don’t miss the training, having to get up and being told where to go. Waking up sore on Monday. Going to training and strapping up, just being sore. I miss the game no question but now I watch them play now I am happy I am retired!”
