New Zealand rugby sevens coaching maestro Gordon Tietjens was knighted Monday by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in her annual birthday honours list.

A noted fitness fanatic, Tietjens has been recognised for building an impressive record with the New Zealand team who have seldom been beaten since he took over as coach in 1994.

Under his stewardship, New Zealand have won 11 of the 14 world series crowns, the 2001 sevens World Cup and four Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Although the honour means he will now be officially known as “Sir Gordon” Tietjens doubted that would happen often.

“I’ll still be known as Titch by the players. Things won’t change in that way,” he told reporters.

He also warned he had no intention of toning down his renowned gut-busting training sessions — regarded as being among the toughest a player can undergo — and takes pride in the number of sevens players who go on make the 15-a-side All Blacks.

“A lot of these younger players launch their careers in sevens. They know I work them hard but if they’ve got the character to come in and have a crack, then I respect them for that,” he said.

“I always hear the boys talk about how hard it is in the sevens team and how bad the coach is, but it’s about having the attitude to make it.”

The 57-year-old, who was inducted into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame last year, now has his sights trained on rugby sevens making its Olympic debut at Rio de Janiero in three years.

“I’m looking forward to the Olympics in 2016. I think that’s going to be a real challenge and the pinnacle of my career which is obviously going to come round pretty quickly and it’s just another special part of my coaching career.”