{{Short description|NZ international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Dane Coles | image = Dane Coles 2018.jpg | image_size = | caption = Coles representing [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] during the [[2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals|November Internationals]] | fullname = Dane Stuart Coles | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|12|10|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Paraparaumu, New Zealand|Paraparaumu]], New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.84|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|110|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = [[Paraparaumu College]]<br />[[Wellington College, Wellington|Wellington College]] | university = | relatives = | position = [[Hooker (rugby union)|Hooker]] | currentclub = | years1 = 2007–2022 | clubs1 = [[Wellington (National Provincial Championship)|Wellington]] | apps1 = 71 | points1 = 90 | years2 = 2009–2023 | clubs2 = [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]] | apps2 = 141 | points2 = 145 | years3 = 2024 | clubs3 = [[Kubota Spears]] | apps3 = 10 | points3 = 20 | repyears1 = 2007 | repteam1 = [[New Zealand national under-21 rugby union team|New Zealand U21]] | repcaps1 = 1 | reppoints1 = 0 | repyears2 = 2010 | repteam2 = [[New Zealand Māori national rugby union team|New Zealand Māori]] | repcaps2 = 3 | reppoints2 = 0 | repyears3 = 2012–2023 | repteam3 = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] | repcaps3 = 90<!-- Total test international appearances --> | reppoints3 = 115<!-- Total test international points --> | clubupdate = 11 July 2024 | repupdate = 29 October 2023 | ru_sevensnationalyears1 = | ru_sevensnationalteam1 = | ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = | ru_sevensupdate = | medals = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Rugby union]]}} {{MedalCountry|{{ru|NZL}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[[Rugby World Cup]]}} {{MedalGold|[[2015 Rugby World Cup|2015 England]]|[[2015 Rugby World Cup squads|Squad]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023 France]]|[[2023 Rugby World Cup squads|Squad]]}} {{MedalBronze|[[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019 Japan]]|[[2019 Rugby World Cup squads|Squad]]}} }}
'''Dane Stuart Coles''' (born 10 December 1986) is a New Zealand former professional [[rugby union]] player.
Coles was a key member of the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]] winning team. He also captained the [[Hurricanes (rugby union)|Hurricanes]] to their maiden [[Super Rugby]] title in 2016. He was widely regarded as one of the best hookers in the world at the height of his career and was a nominee for [[World Rugby Player of the Year]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11703494|title=All Blacks: Dane Coles: Lord of the lineout|date=2016-09-04|newspaper=[[New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777|access-date=2016-10-09}}</ref>
== Early life == Coles attended [[Paraparaumu Beach School]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bagge |first=Holly |date=2014-08-07 |title=ABs a hit in Kapiti |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/10359875/ABs-a-hit-in-Kapiti |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> He later attended [[Paraparaumu College]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2016 |title=Coles gives prized All Blacks jersey to Paraparaumu College |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kapiti-news/news/coles-gives-prized-all-blacks-jersey-to-paraparaumu-college/373RJ6JX5NPPGJP4ILWPM22TWI/ |access-date=10 November 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> and [[Wellington College, Wellington|Wellington College]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/7879139/Coles-All-Blacks-dream-becomes-a-reality |title=Coles' All Blacks dream becomes a reality |first=Toby |last=Robson |date=30 October 2012 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref>
== Rugby career == In 2012, Coles made his [[All Blacks]] debut against [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web | first=Liam | last=Napier | title=Hooker Dane Coles set for debut from bench | url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7916765/Hooker-Dane-Coles-set-for-debut-from-bench | work=Rugby Heaven | publisher=Fairfax | date=7 November 2012 | access-date=18 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first= Brian | last=Moore | title=All Blacks hooker Dane Coles ready to turn up the heat on Scotland | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/newzealand/9662301/Scotland-v-New-Zealand-All-Blacks-hooker-Dane-Coles-ready-to-turn-up-the-heat-on-Scotland.html | work=Telegraph | location=UK | date=9 November 2012 | access-date=18 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Ben | last=Strang | title=Coles buzzing about All Blacks debut | url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapiti-observer/sport/7943928/Coles-buzzing-about-ABs-debut | work=Rugby Heaven | publisher=Fairfax | date=13 November 2012 | access-date=18 April 2014}}</ref> He came on in the 62nd minute: New Zealand 51, Scotland 22.<ref>{{cite web | first=Robert | last= Kitson | title=New Zealand's Dan Carter unstoppable in six-try romp against Scotland | work=[[The Guardian]] | location=UK | url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/nov/11/rugby-union-autumn-international-scotland-new-zealand | publisher=Fairfax | date=12 November 2012 | access-date=18 April 2014}}</ref> Coles made three more appearances off the bench in 2012, earning his first start for New Zealand in 2013 against France.
Coles scored his first try against South Africa in 2014 in a 25–27 loss and had also become a regular starter for New Zealand by 2014, supplanting long-serving All Black great [[Keven Mealamu]] from the starting XV.
Coles started in the knockout rounds of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, including the final against Australia, where the 34–17 victory saw New Zealand become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
Of [[Ngāti Porou]] descent, Coles was awarded the [[Tom French Cup|Tom French Memorial Cup]] in 2016 as the Māori rugby player of the year.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11767886 | title=Barrett brothers our best at NZ rugby awards | date=16 December 2015 | work=[[New Zealand Herald]] | access-date=16 December 2016 | first=Campbell| last=Burnes}}</ref> After scoring four tries that year, which made him the highest-scoring forward in the squad for 2016, Coles was also nominated for New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year and World Rugby Player of the Year earlier in 2016, losing both awards to Hurricanes teammate [[Beauden Barrett]].
Following the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]], Hurricanes midfielder and Captain [[Conrad Smith]] announced that he would leave New Zealand for Pau in France. Smith's departure saw Coles named as the captain of the Hurricanes for 2016.
Coles played in the first three games of the [[2017 Super Rugby season]] for the Hurricanes but after a concussion on 18 March missed an extended period of time, including the drawn [[2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|British and Irish Lions test series]]. Coles lost the Hurricanes captaincy to halfback [[TJ Perenara]] but returned to play in the Super Rugby quarter final on 21 July against the Brumbies in Canberra, coming off the bench for [[Ricky Riccitelli]] in the Hurricanes dominant 35–16 victory. He started the following week's semi-final against the [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]] at [[Ellis Park Stadium]], which the Hurricanes lost. Due to concussion he missed the first Bledisloe Cup test of 2017 but earned his 50th test in a 35–29 win against Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup test on August 26. Coles was retained as a starting player for the rest of the [[2017 Rugby Championship]] despite the form of [[Codie Taylor]] who had started against the Lions in his absence. Coles scored a try in the 38–18 win against France but was subbed off after 20 minutes, due to tearing his ACL, in what was only his 11th professional rugby game of 2017.
Coles missed all of the [[2018 Super Rugby season]] due to his ACL injury. Coles was expected to be back in time for the playoffs but was physically unable to run until June. England international, [[Brad Shields]], captained the Hurricanes in 2018 in Coles' absence. After finally recovering from injury at the back-end of the [[2018 Mitre 10 Cup]], Coles, as well as his teammate [[Nepo Laulala]] were both recalled for New Zealand after a long injury-enforced absence. Coles played four tests for New Zealand during the [[2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals]], but was on the bench for the All Blacks against England and Ireland, having been surpassed as the first-choice hooker by [[Codie Taylor]].
In 2021 Coles led the haka for the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]] side a total four times. For all four the [[Ka Mate]] version was performed. On 10 July 2021 versus Fiji Coles scored four tries which is a record for an All Blacks forward in one match.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reive |first1=Christopher |title=Rugby: Dane Coles scores four tries off the bench to lift All Blacks over Fiji |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-dane-coles-scores-four-tries-off-the-bench-to-lift-all-blacks-over-fiji/BFJ6W7JECY23VTD6NF7W6LAA44/ |publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref>
After the [[2023 Rugby World Cup]] Coles signed with Japanese club [[Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay|Kubota Spears]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/133221798/the-all-blacks-who-are-leaving-new-zealand-and-what-theyll-do-next|title=The All Blacks who are leaving New Zealand, and what they'll do next|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/11/rugby-departing-all-blacks-veteran-dane-coles-shuns-retirement-to-sign-on-with-japanese-club-kubota-spears.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202214802/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/11/rugby-departing-all-blacks-veteran-dane-coles-shuns-retirement-to-sign-on-with-japanese-club-kubota-spears.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2024|title=Departing All Blacks veteran Coles shuns retirement to sign on with Japanese club|via=www.newshub.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-veteran-feels-young-and-energised-after-retirement-u-turn|title=All Blacks veteran feels 'young and energised' after retirement U-turn|first=David|last=Skippers|date=4 December 2023|website=PlanetRugby}}</ref>
== Style of play == Coles is a modern-game hooker who, without sacrificing mass or power for breakdown phases, is also extremely mobile across the field and capable of producing high-quality passing.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://punditarena.com/rugby/thepateam/is-dane-coles-the-exception-to-the-rule-or-is-he-changing-how-we-view-hookers/|title=Is Dane Coles The Exception To The Rule Or Is He Changing How We View Hookers?|date=28 September 2016|work=Pundit Arena|access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref> Such set of skills, traditionally unusual in a front-rower, allow him to join setplays as an extra centre and even to deliver impressively fast runs on the wing.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.planetrugby.com/analysis-the-remarkable-dane-coles/|title=Analysis: The remarkable work of Dane Coles|date=20 September 2016|work=Planet Rugby|access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref> His effectiveness has been praised after his international debut, "with many experts describing Coles as having 'revolutionised' the role of the modern hooker".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/rugby/thepateam/is-dane-coles-the-exception-to-the-rule-or-is-he-changing-how-we-view-hookers/|title=Is Dane Coles the exception to the rule or is he changing how we view hookers?|date=28 September 2016|work=[[RNZ]] |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>
==Honours== {{incomplete list|date=October 2023}} '''New Zealand''' * [[Rugby World Cup]] / [[Webb Ellis Cup]] **Winner: [[2015 Rugby World Cup|2015]] **Third-place: [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019]] **Second-place: [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023]]
'''Hurricanes''' ** Winner Super Rugby - 2016
=== Individual === IRB player of the year nominee - [[World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year|2016]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{sports links}} * {{All Blacks|id=1117|name=Dane Coles}} * [http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/team/players/dane-coles Hurricanes profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524060636/http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/team/players/dane-coles |date=24 May 2012 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130208042657/http://wellingtonlions.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/32-Dane-Coles Wellington Lions profile]
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef | before = [[Nehe Milner-Skudder]]}} {{s-ttl | title = [[Tom French Cup|Tom French Memorial<br>Māori rugby union player of the year]]| years=2016}} {{s-aft | after = [[Rieko Ioane]]}} {{end}}
{{Navboxes |title = Squads |list1 = {{New Zealand 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}} {{New Zealand Squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}} {{New Zealand Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}} }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coles, Dane}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]] [[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]] [[Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Wellington rugby union players]] [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Rugby union hookers]] [[Category:Māori All Blacks players]] [[Category:People from Paraparaumu]] [[Category:Sportspeople from the Kāpiti Coast District]] [[Category:Ngāti Porou people]] [[Category:Rugby union players from the Wellington Region]] [[Category:People educated at Paraparaumu College]] [[Category:People educated at Wellington College, Wellington]] [[Category:2015 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:2023 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:Kubota Spears players]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]]