# Dane Coles

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NZ international rugby union player

Rugby player

Dane Coles Coles representing New Zealand during the November Internationals Full name Dane Stuart Coles Born (1986-12-10) 10 December 1986 (age 39) Paraparaumu, New Zealand Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Weight 110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb) School Paraparaumu College Wellington College Rugby union career Position Hooker Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–2022 Wellington 71 (90) 2009–2023 Hurricanes 141 (145) 2024 Kubota Spears 10 (20) Correct as of 11 July 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2007 New Zealand U21 1 (0) 2010 New Zealand Māori 3 (0) 2012–2023 New Zealand 90 (115) Correct as of 29 October 2023 Medal record Men's Rugby union Representing New Zealand Rugby World Cup 2015 England Squad 2023 France Squad 2019 Japan Squad

**Dane Stuart Coles** (born 10 December 1986) is a New Zealand former professional [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player.

Coles was a key member of the [2015 Rugby World Cup](/source/2015_Rugby_World_Cup) winning team. He also captained the [Hurricanes](/source/Hurricanes_(rugby_union)) to their maiden [Super Rugby](/source/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](/source/World_Rugby_Player_of_the_Year) in 2016.[1]

## Early life

Coles attended [Paraparaumu Beach School](/source/Paraparaumu_Beach_School).[2] He later attended [Paraparaumu College](/source/Paraparaumu_College)[3] and [Wellington College](/source/Wellington_College%2C_Wellington).[4]

## Rugby career

In 2012, Coles made his [All Blacks](/source/All_Blacks) debut against [Scotland](/source/Scotland_national_rugby_union_team).[5][6][7] He came on in the 62nd minute: New Zealand 51, Scotland 22.[8] 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](/source/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](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Porou) descent, Coles was awarded the [Tom French Memorial Cup](/source/Tom_French_Cup) in 2016 as the Māori rugby player of the year.[9] 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](/source/Beauden_Barrett).

Following the [2015 Rugby World Cup](/source/2015_Rugby_World_Cup), Hurricanes midfielder and Captain [Conrad Smith](/source/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](/source/2017_Super_Rugby_season) for the Hurricanes but after a concussion on 18 March missed an extended period of time, including the drawn [British and Irish Lions test series](/source/2017_British_%26_Irish_Lions_tour_to_New_Zealand). Coles lost the Hurricanes captaincy to halfback [TJ Perenara](/source/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](/source/Ricky_Riccitelli) in the Hurricanes dominant 35–16 victory. He started the following week's semi-final against the [Lions](/source/Lions_(United_Rugby_Championship)) at [Ellis Park Stadium](/source/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](/source/2017_Rugby_Championship) despite the form of [Codie Taylor](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/2018_Mitre_10_Cup), Coles, as well as his teammate [Nepo Laulala](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Codie_Taylor).

In 2021 Coles led the haka for the [All Blacks](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team) side a total four times. For all four the [Ka Mate](/source/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.[10]

After the [2023 Rugby World Cup](/source/2023_Rugby_World_Cup) Coles signed with Japanese club [Kubota Spears](/source/Kubota_Spears_Funabashi_Tokyo_Bay).[11][12][13]

## 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.[14] 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.[15] His effectiveness has been praised after his international debut, "with many experts describing Coles as having 'revolutionised' the role of the modern hooker".[16]

## Honours

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2023)

**New Zealand**

- [Rugby World Cup](/source/Rugby_World_Cup) / [Webb Ellis Cup](/source/Webb_Ellis_Cup) - Winner: [2015](/source/2015_Rugby_World_Cup) - Third-place: [2019](/source/2019_Rugby_World_Cup) - Second-place: [2023](/source/2023_Rugby_World_Cup)

**Hurricanes**

- - Winner Super Rugby - 2016

### Individual

IRB player of the year nominee - [2016](/source/World_Rugby_Men's_15s_Player_of_the_Year)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["All Blacks: Dane Coles: Lord of the lineout"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11703494). *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*. 4 September 2016. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1170-0777](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1170-0777). Retrieved 9 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bagge, Holly (7 August 2014). ["ABs a hit in Kapiti"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/10359875/ABs-a-hit-in-Kapiti). *[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website))*. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Coles gives prized All Blacks jersey to Paraparaumu College"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kapiti-news/news/coles-gives-prized-all-blacks-jersey-to-paraparaumu-college/373RJ6JX5NPPGJP4ILWPM22TWI/). *[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald)*. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Robson, Toby (30 October 2012). ["Coles' All Blacks dream becomes a reality"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/7879139/Coles-All-Blacks-dream-becomes-a-reality). *[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website))*. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Napier, Liam (7 November 2012). ["Hooker Dane Coles set for debut from bench"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7916765/Hooker-Dane-Coles-set-for-debut-from-bench). *Rugby Heaven*. Fairfax. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Moore, Brian (9 November 2012). ["All Blacks hooker Dane Coles ready to turn up the heat on Scotland"](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). *Telegraph*. UK. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Strang, Ben (13 November 2012). ["Coles buzzing about All Blacks debut"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapiti-observer/sport/7943928/Coles-buzzing-about-ABs-debut). *Rugby Heaven*. Fairfax. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Kitson, Robert (12 November 2012). ["New Zealand's Dan Carter unstoppable in six-try romp against Scotland"](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/nov/11/rugby-union-autumn-international-scotland-new-zealand). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. UK: Fairfax. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Burnes, Campbell (16 December 2015). ["Barrett brothers our best at NZ rugby awards"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11767886). *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*. Retrieved 16 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Reive, Christopher. ["Rugby: Dane Coles scores four tries off the bench to lift All Blacks over Fiji"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-dane-coles-scores-four-tries-off-the-bench-to-lift-all-blacks-over-fiji/BFJ6W7JECY23VTD6NF7W6LAA44/). [New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald). Retrieved 9 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The All Blacks who are leaving New Zealand, and what they'll do next"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/133221798/the-all-blacks-who-are-leaving-new-zealand-and-what-theyll-do-next). *[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website))*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Departing All Blacks veteran Coles shuns retirement to sign on with Japanese club"](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). Archived from [the original](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) on 2 February 2024 – via www.newshub.co.nz.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Skippers, David (4 December 2023). ["All Blacks veteran feels 'young and energised' after retirement U-turn"](https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-veteran-feels-young-and-energised-after-retirement-u-turn). *PlanetRugby*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Is Dane Coles The Exception To The Rule Or Is He Changing How We View Hookers?"](https://punditarena.com/rugby/thepateam/is-dane-coles-the-exception-to-the-rule-or-is-he-changing-how-we-view-hookers/). *Pundit Arena*. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Analysis: The remarkable work of Dane Coles"](https://www.planetrugby.com/analysis-the-remarkable-dane-coles/). *Planet Rugby*. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Is Dane Coles the exception to the rule or is he changing how we view hookers?"](https://punditarena.com/rugby/thepateam/is-dane-coles-the-exception-to-the-rule-or-is-he-changing-how-we-view-hookers/). *[RNZ](/source/RNZ)*. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

## External links

- [Dane Coles](https://web.archive.org/web/2024/http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/83854.html) at ESPNscrum (archived)

- [Dane Coles](https://www.itsrugby.fr/joueur_9963.html#noir) at ItsRugby.fr (in French)

- [Dane Coles](https://all.rugby/player/dane-coles) at All.Rugby

- [Dane Coles](https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=8) at RugbyDatabase.co.nz

- [Dane Coles](https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1117) at the [All Blacks](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team) (archived)

- [Hurricanes profile](http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/team/players/dane-coles) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120524060636/http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/team/players/dane-coles) 24 May 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Wellington Lions profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20130208042657/http://wellingtonlions.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/32-Dane-Coles)

Awards Preceded by Nehe Milner-Skudder Tom French Memorial Māori rugby union player of the year 2016 Succeeded by Rieko Ioane

Squads v t e New Zealand squad – 2023 Rugby World Cup runners-up Forwards S. Barrett Blackadder (replaced Narawa) Cane (c) Coles De Groot Frizell Jacobson Laulala Lomax Newell Papalii Retallick Savea Taukei'aho Taylor Tuʻungafasi Vaa'i Whitelock Williams Backs B. Barrett J. Barrett Christie Clarke Faingaʻanuku Havili Ioane Jordan Lienert-Brown McKenzie Mo'unga Narawa Roigard Smith Tele'a Head coach: Ian Foster v t e New Zealand squad – 2019 Rugby World Cup third place Forwards S. Barrett Cane Coles Coltman Frizell (replaced Jacobson) Jacobson (ruled out by injury) Laulala Moli Moody Read (c) Retallick Savea Taʻavao Taylor Todd Tuipulotu Tuʻungafasi Whitelock Backs B. Barrett J. Barrett Bridge Crotty Goodhue Ioane Lienert-Brown Mo'unga Perenara Reece A. Smith B. Smith Weber Williams Head coach: Hansen v t e New Zealand squad – 2015 Rugby World Cup winners (3rd title) Forwards Cane Coles Crockett Faumuina B. Franks O. Franks Kaino McCaw (c) Mealamu Messam Moody Read Retallick Romano Taylor Vito Whitelock Woodcock Backs Barrett Carter Fekitoa Kerr-Barlow Milner-Skudder Naholo Nonu Perenara Savea Slade A. Smith B. Smith C. Smith Williams Head coach: Hansen

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dane Coles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dane_Coles) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dane_Coles?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.