DUBAI // Gordon Tietjens, the New Zealand coach, says the door is open to a return for Orene Ai'i, who is regarded as one of the finest players ever to play the short-form - seven years after he left the world circuit.
The 2005 world sevens Player of the Year is back in Dubai this weekend, playing third-tier rugby as a guest for the Nigerian side Racing Club of Lagos.
On the evidence of their opening pool match against Almaty in the International Open last night, he has lost little of the old panache.
He played three no-look, round-the-back passes, and was even kicking touchline conversions both left and right-footed in the 24-7 victory.
His form this weekend is unlikely to go unnoticed within the New Zealand hierarchy, who are aware of his interest in making a belated comeback to top-flight sevens.
"Orene Ai'i is an outstanding rugby player," said Tietjens, whose All Blacks sevens side begin their campaign against Wales at 10.36am today.
"Watching him play ITM Cup in New Zealand, he still has all the talent and skill sets. He is a special player, looks after himself, and knows the game of sevens inside out.
"He is throwing a few hints out there and he may [attempt to earn selection]. He may turn up in Queenstown [trials] and be very, very good - you never say never.
"He does offer a huge array of skills that can be complementary to my sevens team."
The player himself, who has been training with Auckland's sevens side, is intent on pressing his claims for a recall at national trials in New Zealand.
He initially left after being offered terms to play XVs rugby in Japan, having made his name on the sevens circuit, then went on to play for Toulon in France.
Ai'i, who would provide New Zealand with an alternative to Tomasi Cama, who remains one of the leading creative forces in the game, said a return to Pitch One duty at next year's Sevens should not be ruled out.
"I have missed it," the 33-year-old playmaker said last night. "To be back playing it with these boys, I have really got that buzz back again.
"I have no regrets at leaving when I did. I left on a high note, gave my family the chance to see the world, and we saw the financial benefits of it, too. But watch this space."
pradley@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
