The 37-year-old would love to be part of Rio de Janerio Games in 2016 when the sport makes its Olympic debut. Also his 18-year-old son Renata recently side-stepped him for the first time.
Ouch.
These days Te Nana's involvement in the game is mostly restricted to commentary and promoting the game at the grassroots level.
He visited Otago schools Taieri College and East Otago High School yesterday as part of a joint venture by Skinny - a communications company - and Condors Rugby Football Club.
Condors runs the BNZ national secondary schools sevens finals which will be hosted in Auckland in December.
Te Nana was pleasantly surprised at the talent in the regions and believes the sport's inclusion in the Olympics will result in growth and increased profile.
"The message we are trying to pass on to the kids is, if they are willing to work then they have an opportunity to go to the Olympics," he said.
"Gordon Tietjens has shown he will give them a go, so it is not that far out of their reach.
"It is a great opportunity for these kids. It doesn't matter if they are from East Otago or the middle of Auckland, there are opportunities.
"I was lucky to go to Manchester but to go to the Olympics, that's the ultimate.
"Imagine hanging out at the village with Usain Boult and those sort of people."
Te Nana scored more than 100 tries for his country from 1996 to 2003 and has a Commonwealth Games gold medal, from the Manchester Games, tucked away somewhere at home.
Well, at least he hopes it is tucked away somewhere. His daughter wanted to take it to school for a show and tell, so he had a look around but was not able to narrow it down to its exact spot.
"It is in the house somewhere.
"It is misplaced - that's a better word. We're moving house but I will find it. It is there somewhere, just where I'm not sure. My wife might have melted it down."
It is hard to have a conversation about sevens without mentioning Sonny Bill Williams. Talk the code-crossing athlete might be interested in switching to sevens is just talk at this stage. But Te Nana is in no doubt the former All Black could make a go of it.
"You can't stop him off-loading the ball in 15s, imagine him on the sevens field. I think he would be a great asset."
While SBW can seemingly do just about anything, Te Nana believes people will have to start making a choice whether to play rugby or sevens and "that will be an increasing dilemma".
In the meantime, Te Nana is working on his commentary career in the hope he will get to go to the Rio Games as part of the broadcast team, while his side-stepping son hopes to make the squad.
"My son really wants to go and that is why I'm so passionate about the game at this level. I'm really just trying to help him out and it would be a really cool thing to see if he can get there and I can get there, and to see who gets there first.
"He stepped me for the first time and needless to say he had to do the dishes when he got home."
•We have a signed rugby ball from former sevens star Karl Te Nana to give away. To be in to win please email your contact details to sport@odt.co.nz by noon on Friday. The winner must be able to pick up their prize from the ODT office in Dunedin.
