Colin Deans

Who is Colin Deans?

Colin Thomas Deans born on 3 May 1955 in Hawick in the Scottish borders is a former rugby union player with Hawick RFC and Scotland. His nickname was the Hawick Hooker.

He made his Scotland debut against France in 1978 when Scotland lost, 16 - 19. He was active on the national team between 1978, and 1987, with his high point being in Scotland's 1984 Grand Slam.

Richard Bath writes of him that he was

Allan Massie describes him as a hooker with back-row skills:

He also says that Deans was, "with the possible exception of Peter Wheeler, the most accurate thrower-in of recent years."

Deans was selected for the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand, but surprisingly was kept on the bench for its entireity. New Zealand thrashed the British Lions on this tour.

He obtained 52 caps for his country. He is said to have been most effective when playing in combination with David Leslie.

Noted for his skills at the line-out, of the game against Wales in 1984, the first Scottish Grand Slam since 1925, Allan Massie says "we would have probably lost that game if the Deans-Leslie combination had been less effective".

With 52 caps he overtook Frank Laidlaw's previous record.