KEY POINTS:
Why are we asking this now?
Because Deans was announced as the coach of Australia's national rugby team, the Wallabies, at 3pm today. He will also coach the Canterbury Crusaders.
Who is Robbie Deans?
Robert Maxwell Deans, better known as Robbie, is the current coach of the Crusaders rugby team.
Deans is considered the best rugby coach in New Zealand by many because his team have won more Super rugby titles than any other (three Super 12 titles and one Super 14).
How did his rugby playing career start?
Deans played mainly in the first-five eighths position for his school rugby team at Christ's College in Christchurch, were he boarded.
His professional career started in 1979 when he played for Canterbury at first five-eighths and then fullback.
He last played for the team in 1990, when he was captain.
He still holds the record for the most points in the Canterbury provincial jersey (147 games, 1641 points).
Deans' brief All Black career, between 1984 and 1985, saw him play 19 matches for the team.
His brother Bruce Deans and great-uncle Bob Deans also played for the All Blacks.
What about his coaching career?
Deans was appointed coach of the Canterbury team for the 1997 National Provincial Championship (NPC) season.
He was assisted by Steve Hansen (the 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.
The following year he managed the Canterbury Crusaders (since renamed the Crusaders) Super 12 team who were coached by Wayne Smith.
The team won the title that year and the next.
In 2000 Wayne Smith became the 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, leading them to a Ranfurly Shield win over Waikato.
However from 2001 Deans focused solely on the Crusaders.
In 2002 and 2005, the team won their second and third title with Deans in charge.
They won the Super 14 title last year - their fourth win with Deans in charge - making him 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 and he held the position until Mitchell was replaced after the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
What awards has he won?
Deans won the Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Trust's Canterbury Coach of the Year in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006, sharing the award with Steve Hansen in 2001 and Vern Cotter in 2006 (Bay of Plenty coach).
He won the New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year award in 2002 and the same year was nominated for Halberg Award Coach of the Year.
