Robbie Deans
Robert Maxwell Deans (born 4 September 1959) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former All Blacks player who primarily played as a fullback.[1] Deans represented the All Blacks in five Test matches between 1983 and 1985, scoring 50 points.[1] His coaching career includes leading Canterbury to the National Provincial Championship title in 1997 and serving as assistant coach for the All Blacks from 2001 to 2003.[1] As head coach of the Crusaders from 2000 to 2008, he guided the team to five Super Rugby titles in 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2006.[2] Deans became the first non-Australian head coach of the Wallabies in 2008, overseeing 75 Tests until 2013 with a record of 44 wins.[3] From 2014 to 2025, he coached the Saitama Wild Knights (formerly Panasonic Wild Knights) in Japan, securing multiple league championships before transitioning to an executive advisor role.[4][5]Early Life and Background
Family Origins and Upbringing
Robert Maxwell Deans was born on 4 September 1959 in Cheviot, a small rural town in North Canterbury, New Zealand.[6] He grew up as part of the fifth generation of the Deans family in the Canterbury region, descending from early settlers with deep ties to farming and rugby.[7] The family maintained a sheep farm named Kilmarnock in the Blythe Valley near Cheviot, where Deans lived until around age 10, instilling in him values of hard work and rural self-reliance amid New Zealand's agricultural landscape.[8][9] Deans was raised in a household steeped in rugby tradition, with his brother Ian Bruce Deans—born in 1960 and later an All Black—sharing the same environment of farm life and sport. Their great-uncle, Robert George "Bob" Deans, had been a pioneering Canterbury and All Blacks player on the 1905 Originals tour, embedding rugby excellence as a familial legacy that emphasized skill, toughness, and competitive nous.[10] Additional siblings included sisters Joanne, Nicky, and Sarah, with the family's collective involvement in provincial and national rugby underscoring an upbringing where the sport was both recreation and cultural cornerstone in a nation where it dominates rural communities.[7] This background fostered Deans' early affinity for the game, played informally on the farm before formal involvement.[6]Education and Initial Rugby Involvement
Robbie Deans attended Christ's College, a boarding school in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 1973 to 1977.[11] There, he developed an interest in rugby, primarily playing as a first five-eighth in the school's 1st XV team.[12] Following secondary school, Deans pursued studies in economics and mathematics at Christchurch College of Education, where he qualified in these subjects.[11] His initial rugby involvement extended beyond school to local club level with the Glenmark Club in North Canterbury, building on his family’s provincial rugby heritage.[12] In 1979, Deans made his provincial debut for Canterbury, initially at first five-eighths before transitioning to fullback, a position he occupied amid competition from contemporaries like Wayne Smith.[13] This marked the start of a 12-year playing career with the province, during which he contributed to early successes in the National Provincial Championship era.[14]Playing Career
Provincial Career with Canterbury
Deans debuted for Canterbury on 9 May 1979 against West Coast, initially positioned as a first five-eighths before shifting to fullback to accommodate Wayne Smith in the number 10 jersey.[15][16] He remained a fixture in the backline through the 1980s, serving as the province's primary goal-kicker and contributing to a dominant era that included multiple Ranfurly Shield defenses from 1982 to 1985.[1] By the end of his playing tenure on 6 October 1990 against Auckland, Deans had amassed 146 appearances and 1,641 points for Canterbury, establishing himself as one of the province's most prolific scorers and reliable performers.[1][15][6]International Appearances with All Blacks
Deans made his debut for the All Blacks on a tour of Britain and Ireland in 1983, appearing in non-Test fixtures before earning his first Test cap. He accumulated 19 appearances in total for New Zealand, comprising five Test matches and 14 tour games, during which he scored 252 points overall.[1][15] In Tests, he primarily played at fullback, contributing 50 points through 14 penalties and four conversions, reflecting his kicking proficiency despite provincial experience mainly at fly-half.[15] His international career was limited by intense competition for backline positions from established players like Grant Fox and John Gallagher. Deans' Test debut came during the 1983 end-of-year tour, followed by selections in the 1984 Bledisloe Cup series against Australia. The All Blacks won two of the three Tests against Australia, but Deans did not feature in further internationals after 1984, as selection pressures mounted ahead of the 1987 Rugby World Cup hosted by New Zealand.[1]| Date | Opponent | Result | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 November 1983 | Scotland | 25–25 | Fullback | Not specified in match data |
| 19 November 1983 | England | 9–15 | Fullback | Not specified in match data |
| 21 July 1984 | Australia | 9–16 | Fullback | Not specified in match data |
| 4 August 1984 | Australia | 19–15 | Fullback | Not specified in match data |
| 18 August 1984 | Australia | 25–24 | Fullback | Not specified in match data |