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Robbie Deans

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Robbie Deans
SchoolChrist's College
Notable relative(s)Bruce Deans (brother)
Bob Deans (great-uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1979-1990 Canterbury 146 (1641)
Correct as of 11-11-2006
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1983-1985 All Blacks 5 (50)
Correct as of 11-11-2006
Coaching career
Years Team
1997 - 2000
2001 - 2003
2000 -		 Canterbury
All Blacks (assistant coach)
Crusaders
Correct as of 11-11-2006

Robert Maxwell Deans, better known as Robbie Deans (born 4 September 1959 in Cheviot New Zealand) is the current coach of the Crusaders rugby union team, and a former All Black. He was also assistant to former All Blacks coach John Mitchell (rugby player) between late 2001 and 2003. As Crusaders coach he has won more Super rugby titles than any other (three Super 12 titles and one Super 14), he has also coached Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship, winning the title in 1997. As a player Robbie Deans represented Canterbury, playing at first five-eighth and then fullback, he also played 19 matches for the All Blacks, including 5 Tests.

Playing career

Robbie Deans attended Christ's College in Christchurch as a boarder, he played rugby at the school, mainly at first-five eight.[1] Deans first played provincial rugby for Canterbury in 1979. He mainly played at fullback for Canterbury as the team had Wayne Smith who played at first-five. Deans did the kicking for the team however and this contributed to the 1641 points he scored for his province. He was a member of the Canterbury team during the Ranfurly Shield (referred to as The Shield) era of the early 1980s. This included kicking 8 of Canterbury's 16 points in its 16-12 Shield challenge win over Wellington in 1982.[2] The shield reign ended in 1985 against Auckland in "the match of the century" where Robbie Deans also played.[3][2] This reign is the longest in Canterbury rugby union history.[4] He last played for Canterbury in 1990 when he captained the team, he represented his province 146 times.

Deans also played for New Zealand's national rugby team the All Blacks. He first played against Edinburgh on 26 October 1983. He played five tests for the All Blacks scoring 50 points, he played an additional 14 games for the All Blacks scoring 202 points. His All Blacks career lasted less than two years, playing his last game against a Mar del Plata selection on 29 October 1985. He, however, did participate in the controversial Cavaliers tour of South Africa in 1986.

Coaching career

Robbie Deans was appointed coach of the Canterbury team for the 1997 National Provincial Championship (NPC) season.[5] He was assisted by Steve Hansen (current All Blacks forwards coach). Deans' first season was a success, with Canterbury beating Auckland for the first time in 14 years, then going on to win the title.[6] The following year he managed the Canterbury Crusaders (since renamed Crusaders) Super 12 team who were coached by Wayne Smith. The Crusaders won the title, beating the Auckland Blues (since renamed the Blues) in the final at Eden Park.[7] The Crusaders repeated the feat the following year, with Deans again manager.[8]

In 2000 Wayne Smith became All Blacks coach and Robbie Deans took over as Crusaders coach. Deans coached the Crusaders to their third successive Super 12 title that year, beating the Brumbies in Canberra. He continued to coach the Canterbury team in the NPC in 2000. Deans coached the team to a Ranfurly Shield win over Waikato, the shield was held until 2003 (totalling 23 challenges). Canterbury's success in the 2000 season saw them host the NPC final at Jade Stadium against Wellington. A victory would have seen Deans' coach teams to Super 12, Ranfurly Shield and NPC titles in the same year, however Wellington won 34-29.[9]

The 2000 season is the last where Deans coached both the Crusaders and Canterbury, he focusing solely on the Crusaders from 2001. The 2001 Super 12 season was the least successful of Deans' in charge, the Crusaders finish tenth. The following season the Crusaders won their fourth title and second with him in charge, the season was also notable as the Crusaders went through it unbeaten. In the following two seasons the Crusaders finished runners-up. The Crusaders won their third title under Deans in 2005. The Crusaders won their sixth title in 2006, and their fourth win with Deans in charge, making Deans the most successful coach in Super 12 and Super 14 history.

John Mitchell appointed Robbie Deans as his assistant when Mitchell became All Blacks coach in late 2001. Deans held the position until Mitchell was replaced after the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Under Mitchell and Deans the All Blacks won the 2002 and 2003 Tri-Nations titles, as well as the Bledisloe Cup in 2003.

Deans was approached by the management team of the Super 14 team the Stormers to join the team as the Head coach because his contract expires at the end of the year and the Stormers' recent form has not been good[10]. But on July 25 2007 it was announced that he had resigned with the NZRFU and will be the coach of the Crusaders for the 2008 Super 14 season with an option for the 2009 season[11]. He had previously also been linked with the Wallabies coaching position[12].

Awards

Deans won the Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Trust's Canterbury Coach of the year in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006 sharing the award in 2001 (with Steve Hansen) and 2006 (with Vern Cotter).[13] He was nominated for Halberg Award Coach of the year in 2002.[14] He also won the New Zealand Rugby Coach of the year award in 2002.[15]

Notable family members

Deans' brother Bruce Deans and great-uncle Bob Deans also played for the All Blacks.

Notes and references

  1. ^ Giford (2004), pg 111
  2. ^ a b "Sportsfreaks Top 10 Shield moments". sportsfreak.co.nz. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 28 October. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Gifford (2004), pg 124
  4. ^ "Thanks for the Memories". crfu.co.nz. 25 September 2006. Retrieved 28 October. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Gifford (2004), pg 156
  6. ^ Gifford (2004), pg 161
  7. ^ Howitt (2005), pg 51.
  8. ^ Howitt (2005), pg 65.
  9. ^ Gifford (2004), pg 181
  10. ^ Stormers management on a new Crusade
  11. ^ Deans staying at Crusaders
  12. ^ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,22031942-2722,00.html Kiwi Robbie Deans firms as Wallabies coach
  13. ^ "Canterbury Sporting Hall of Fame". hadlee.org.nz. Retrieved 28 October. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Text "2006" ignored (help)
  14. ^ "2002 Say When Halberg Awards". powerupdates.com. Retrieved 28 October. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Steinlager Rugby Awards". nzrugbynet.co.nz. 31 October 2002. Retrieved 28 October. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

Bibliography and references

  • Robbie Deans at AllBlacks.com
  • Howitt, Bob (2005); SANZAR Saga - Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby, Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 1-86950-566-2
  • Gifford, Phil (2004); The Passion - The Stories Behind 125 years of Canterbury Rugby, Wilson Scott Publishing. ISBN 0-9582535-1-X
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