Rugby: Deans will keep open mind over Blues role

Robbie Deans wants to coach more Super Rugby.

Robbie Deans in Blues coaching livery. It's a notion to create varying doses of dismay, mirth and backing as the franchise looks at its troubled results chart.

Salvage theories about the Blues will continue to grow as the team remains winless this season and cast at the bottom of the points table.

Their troubles are an amalgam of many issues, some historical or inherited and others created within the current group under Sir John Kirwan's three-season stewardship.

A mid-season review looms next month where coaching reappointments, player contracts and recruitment will be examined.

The ownership mix of NZRU and private investment will look for answers about a Kirwan-led period where the Blues have won 13 games and lost 24. Ideas about coaching alternatives will infiltrate the discussions.

Deans has not been shoulder-tapped about any interest as he enjoys a break in Canterbury from coaching the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.

"You never say never," he said when asked about any interest in coaching the Blues.

"The older you get, you realise that things are never certain so it doesn't pay to close doors. But the fact of the matter is, I have a commitment and an obligation that I do intend to fulfill."

Deans said if he were approached, his immediate response would be to rebuff any offers because of his current deal. However, he still wanted to coach at the top level and that aim was with the All Blacks.

His deal in Japan was a significant one which went beyond this year.

"I have a good relationship there and the interesting part of my brief is that the group is at a point of need in terms of succession and ultimately, part of my brief is to prepare a generation of Japanese coaches as well because they have celebrations in 2018 and it would be good if they have a Japanese coach for that."

If another job came up and it was a good fit Deans would look at it. "Probably the only international job [I'd consider] would be the All Blacks for obvious reasons, I mean who wouldn't want to coach them."

After managing then coaching Canterbury and the Crusaders to multiple successes, Deans thought it would be intriguing to coach another Super rugby side.

"If the excitement and challenge was there it would not be hard but obviously I have a natural connection to Canterbury," he said.