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Rugby Union

Deans is new Wallabies coach

14/12/2007

Former New Zealand international Robbie Deans has been appointed the new coach of the Australian rugby union side.

He becomes the first man from outside Australia to coach the national rugby side, taking over from John Connolly who stepped down following defeat in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup against England.

Deans was passed over by the country of his birth after New Zealand Rugby Union opted to continue under head coach Graham Henry, who was widely tipped to lose his job after the All Blacks were also knocked out in the last-eight despite being overwhelming favourites.

He signs a four-year contract to take the team through to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia Rugby Union (ARU) chairman Peter McGrath said Deans' "superb record" had made the decision straightforward.

"The ARU board presented the selection panel with a brief to find the most outstanding candidate.

"We as a board consider this appointment satisfies that objective.

"The Australian public would expect nothing less from us and we see this as a new start for Australian rugby."

McGrath also suggested the Wallabies "are on the doorstep of generational change" and that Deans "is the man to move us into that new era".

Deans will step down from his job as head coach of the Crusaders Super 14 side next year to take full-time charge of Australia.

He comes with a solid CV, which includes stints as assistant coach of the All Blacks and head coach of Canterbury where he won the National Provincial Championship in 1997.