Deans still to sign final contract

Deans still to sign final contract
By RUPERT GUINNESS - SMH | Saturday, 22 December 2007
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New Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has yet finalise the exact terms of his four-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union and sign it – and he will not do so until the new year.

While the New Zealander was named two weeks ago as the first foreign coach of the Wallabies, it emerged yesterday that the Crusaders coach has only signed a letter of agreement committing him to the ARU.

The ARU confirmed this yesterday, saying it plans to sit down with Deans after the Christmas break to nut out and settle on the finer points of the contract that will extend to and include the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

It is expected a key element in the contract will be a restraining clause stopping Deans from using the intellectual property he gains as the Wallabies coach should he leave to coach elsewhere, especially in New Zealand.

The contract, said ARU deputy chief executive Matt Carroll, would also outline the bonus scheme offer for Deans. It could also include a clause for an extension beyond 2011 should both parties agree.

"In terms of the key points of the contract, we will be settling on those after Christmas," said Carroll yesterday.

Carroll added that a restraining clause in Dean's contract had not yet been discussed. But he said it was common practice to include them in ARU deals "where intellectual property can't be used outside of the organisation".

However, the ARU also flagged the prospect that it may even try to secure his services to beyond 2011 which would also minimise any chance of that inside knowledge crossing back across the Tasman after the World Cup.

"It may be a clause will go in where, if everyone is happy, it will trigger an extension," said Carroll.

Carroll said there was no concern that Australian rugby could lose Deans because his contract had yet to be locked in. Asked if he could still renege on the deal he said: "No ... also because I know he really wants to come here."

Also high on the agenda at the ARU's next meeting with Deans will be the hot topic of who his assistant coaches will be. Yesterday, Carroll said there had still been no further discussion with him on that since his appointment.

Since Deans' appointment, the debate has been increasing over whether he should be allowed to bring his own team across, or if the ARU should appoint his assistant as chief executive John O'Neill initially said it would.

There has been speculation that Blues coach David Nucifora might be interested in an assistant's role after he missed out on the Wallabies head coaching job of which he was considered a front runner until Deans applied.

But Nucifora is not the only Australian Super 14 coach who should be considered for such a position after falling short on his ambition to coach the Wallabies.

None are more credentialled in that role than Ewen McKenzie.

The NSW head coach and former World Cup-winning prop who also missed out on the Wallabies coach position has a wealth of experience in that assistant's role at test level.

From 2000-20003 and under the wing of former Wallabies head coach Rod Macqueen and Eddie Jones, McKenzie was the Wallabies director of coaching in campaigns that led to two series wins in the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup, victory over the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia and second place in the 2003 World Cup.

And with O'Neill having been at the ARU then before leaving to head the Football Federation Australia, the recently returned rugby boss should have solid knowledge of the synergy McKenzie would bring to that role.

When asked yesterday if he would be interested in a Wallabies assistant's role under Deans, the Waratahs coach, whose contract with NSW Rugby ends next year, would not rule out considering one were it offered to him.

"Right now I am focused on Super 14 and the Waratahs. But I would consider it. I would never say never," he said.

"If someone is interested in you, you are always going to consider your options. But right now my focus is on getting the Waratahs right. Quite clearly everyone hangs on to your results."– Sydney Morning Herald