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Sport Museum at Homebush Stables

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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Robbie and Bruce Deans

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TitleRobbie and Bruce DeansDescriptionIn the 1980s, the Deans brothers Robbie and Bruce were our local rugby stars. Proud Cantabrian fans chanting on the sidelines, ‘Give it a boot, Robbie, give it a boot!’

Rugby looms large in the Deans family. The brothers' great uncle was All Black legend Bob Deans, much admired for his speed on the field. An impressive collection of the family’s sporting memorabilia is on display at the museum at Homebush Stables in Darfield. Prominent are the caps worn by ‘Burly Bob’ Deans during the 1905-06 All Black tour.

Both Robbie and Bruce played in the Christ’s College 1st XV before joining the Glenmark Club representing Canterbury and All Black history.

A mainstay of Canterbury rugby during its Ranfurly Shield pre-eminence 1982-85, Robbie scored a record number of shield points (332) as well as creating records for most conversions (10), most penalties (7) and most points in a match (32). As an All Black, 1983-85, Rob Deans played 19 matches scoring 252 points. Apart from his kicking prowess and elusive running, Deans was – despite his light build – a safe defensive fullback.

Younger brother Bruce Deans, by the time he retired from the Canterbury squad in 1990, had done as well. Since 1987 he had appeared 23 times for the All Blacks as halfback, 10 of them in tests. He had also made 116 appearances for Canterbury, including one of the highest number of Ranfurly Shield matches played by any player up till that time. His main claim to fame was that he was the only player in the Canterbury team who played in every game while they held the shield and never left the ground injured during his Canterbury and All Black appearances.

Bruce died of cancer in 2019, aged 58. Robbie went to coach the Wallabies and Crusaders and is currently Head Coach for the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan.

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