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'It would be the ultimate send off': Dane Coles hints 2021 may be his last year with Hurricanes and All Blacks

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

All Blacks and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles has dropped a major hint that 2021 may be his final year of professional rugby in New Zealand.

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Coles is off-contract with New Zealand Rugby at the end of this year, but the 34-year-old suggested this season could be his last hurrah while speaking to RNZ ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa season.

“Obviously my last year coming up with the Canes. I haven’t completely ruled out staying on, but I’ve just got to appreciate it this year,” he said.

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“It’s always a special time being back with the lads. I’ll try not to dwell on it [last season with the Hurricanes], I’ll just try and contribute to the group and I’ve still got that same desire to perform and to help the team out.”

RNZ reports that Coles had planned on retiring from rugby entirely at the end of 2021, with last year’s unorthodox season forcing him to survey his options.

While he hasn’t completely committed to hanging up his boots by the end of the year, Coles noted that winning a Super Rugby Aotearoa crown with the Hurricanes “would be the ultimate send off”.

“It would mean a lot. It would mean more than a lot. It would be the ultimate send off and we’re working hard to try and achieve that.”

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Should Coles step away from the game this year, the All Blacks would face the prospect of heading to the 2023 World Cup in France without one of their most experienced players.

With 74 tests to his name, Coles has been a key part of the All Blacks squad since his international debut in 2012.

He started in New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup final victory over Australia, ahead of the great Keven Mealamu, and regained his place in the All Blacks’ starting lineup last year after falling behind Codie Taylor in the pecking order at the 2019 World Cup.

Taylor stands as the obvious candidate to fill Coles’ boots if the latter calls time on his career, while Asafo Aumua continues to develop as a long-term prospect for both the All Blacks and Hurricanes.

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Beyond those two, the only other hookers in New Zealand with All Blacks experience are Liam Coltman and Nathan Harris, neither of whom have caught the eye in recent times, whether that be through lack of form or injury.

Experienced rake Ash Dixon was a standout at both Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup level in 2020, but, at 32 years of age, a test debut might be beyond him.

The likes of Kurt Eklund and Andrew Makalio have also impressed, as reflected in their selections in the North and South Island squads last year, but the All Blacks remain without a clear third-choice hooker to fill the potential void that Coles will soon leave.

Whether Coles could be persuaded to stay onboard through until the next World Cup remains to be seen, but the veteran front rower said playing at that tournament in two years is still a possibility.

“Never say never,” he told RNZ. “Especially with Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] coming over to rugby, it would be awesome to play with him. I’m not ruling out anything, I’m likely to keep going as long as I can until the coaches say that’s enough.”

For now, though, Coles remains intent on helping the Hurricanes deliver their first championship since 2016, with the Wellington franchise kicking off their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign against the Blues at Sky Stadium on February 27.

“I still love playing for New Zealand and still passionate about it. I’m still driven to get there and it all starts by performing for the Hurricanes.”

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AM 40 minutes ago
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That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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