London club Harlequins are leading the race to sign former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
Deans has been without a team since being sacked as coach of Australia after the series loss to the Lions, with Ewen McKenzie taking over for this year's Rugby Championship.
It is understood the Argentina Rugby Union were interested in hiring the former Crusaders coach as they prepare to enter an extended Super Rugby competition - but Deans' price was said to be too high.
If Deans joins Harlequins (where former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick is a board member), he will replace head coach John Kingston and join former All Black first-five Nick Evans at the club. Harlequins are fifth in the English premiership and have lost both of their European fixtures this year to Welsh club Scarlets and French outfit Clermont Auvergne.
Deans has been off limits to the media since his departure from the Australia job. It is understood he is writing a book about his experiences.
