Careers in parallel

Press, 30 May 1983, Page 19

Careers in parallel

Jock Hobbs and Robbie Deans, both newcomers to the All Black squad for the first test against the Lions on Saturday, have had parallel careers in rugby. They were fellow members of the First XV at Christ’s College, progressed to provincial colts level, and both made their debuts for Canterbury seniors in 1979. In addition, they are destined to become brothers-in-law. Hobbs has just become engaged to Nicky Deans, Robbie Deans’ sister. Hobbs has now played 35 times for Canterbury A, and broadened his experience by joining the Vale of Lune club in Lancashire in the last northern winter. Deans, the All Black reserve full-back, has made 52 appearances for Canterbury, played for the victorious South Island team last season, and has won selection for both New Zealand Juniors and New Zealand Colts. Both he and lan Dunn, the new first five-eighths, were

members of the 1980 Colts side. Warwick Taylor, the other new Canterbury All Black, graduated to the national Colts team in 1981, when he attended the University of Otago. A product of Matamata High School, in Waikato, he played

for North Island under-16 and under-18 sides, and later appeared 20 times for Otago in the 1980 and 1981 seasons. Since his Canterbury debut last year he has made 11 appearances at second fiveeighths for the red-and-blacks.