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Dane Coles explains 'surprise' move to Japan and missing World Cup final
Retirement will have to wait for Dane Coles, the 90-cap All Black has made something of a shock signing with Kubota Spears after initially revealing he would retire from rugby following the Rugby World Cup.
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Coles, known for his pace at the hooker position as well as a history of some inflammatory gamesmanship, was the second oldest All Black of all time while competing for New Zealand in France.
Earlier in the year, the 36-year-old made it known he would be hanging up the boots following the World Cup, expressing no interest in taking up an overseas contract despite the promise of a healthy contribution to his retirement fund.
The veteran told 1News he was happy to be “back with family after a big couple of months” and was pleasantly surprised by the reception the team had received upon returning to home soil.
“I thought we might be enemy number one but everyone’s actually been really positive and supportive which has been pretty cool,” he added.
“Just been at the Auckland airport and everyone’s come out to say how proud of the All Blacks and how proud they were of the effort and the World Cup, especially in the final. That was pretty cool to hear that.
“Good to see the kids, it’s been a long couple of months mate. I told them ‘one last little trip’ but cool to be in Kapiti and chill out for a little bit.”
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As it turns out, it would not be the last trip Coles would take, but his family will be by his side for the Japan season.
“(Word) travel’s fast!” He laughed when questioned on the contract.
“A bit of a surprise, mate. Actually looking forward to it, it just came during the bye week in the World Cup. They needed a Hooker, obviously with Malcolm Marx going down.
“I think my wife was probably more keen than I was to be fair. It’s a bit of an adventure, we’re taking the kids so yeah, it will be cool. Just a little six months, just to spend some time with the family and take them over there. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Coles was left on the sidelines during the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup final effort, missing out on the matchday 23 to regular starter Codie Taylor and young gun Samisoni Taukei’aho – the latter of which shared an emotional message of gratitude for Coles during the final week, acknowledging his growth under the mentorship of the man he affectionately refers to as “grandad”.
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Coles remained a true professional in the face of sitting out the final.
“It was easy mate, I kind of knew it was coming, just with the way Soni (Taukei’aho) and Codie (Taylor) were going. So, it was an easy week for me.
“It’s always about the team, I just put my emotions aside and just try to help prep the boys.
“I’ve learnt in this game mate, there’s no guarantees and whoever gets the job deserves it. So, there was no resentment, Foz (Ian Foster), he’s got enough on his plate to worry about an old hooker dropping his lip, so that was sweet as. I supported him and got behind the boys. Just doing my job, no guarantees around the rugby game. ”
The 2016 Super Rugby champion concludes his New Zealand career at peace with his achievements.
“Even not playing in the World Cup (final), I still went out on my own terms, I was still part of the squad.
“Even though I didn’t play in the final, I was still kind of part of it on that field. It’s all good, it’s just the way things are.
“Whatever happens in Japan, that won’t determine my rugby career. It’s just more of an adventure and trying to help my old coach Dan Cron, because they were looking for a hooker with a bit of experience. So that’s all it is, just a bit of fun.”
Coles signed off the interview with a message to fans.
“I gave it everything I’ve got and it’s cool I’ve been acknowledged through social media and a lot of texts and messages. It’s been pretty cool to reflect and inspire the next generation. You know what it’s like, a chapter closes and another one opens.
“Thanks, New Zealand, it’s been a pleasure putting on the black jersey and I’m happy to leave and see what’s next.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I like to see the Crusaders lose as much as the next non-Crusaders fan, but the fact that most of their best players have not been available this year is being hand waved away like it shouldn’t effect them. It’s no coincidence that their first dominant performance came when they had more of their best players back. This is not rocket science. If they can stay fit their team at the business end of the season will include Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace in the forwards - most of whom have barely, or not played this year. That is an outstanding pack that have not played together this season. McLeod, Havili, Aumua, Reece, and Halfpenny will be a very different prospect behind their first choice pack as well. Having said all that Penney’s record is scratchy at best, but given the players that have left and their injury list I’m reserving judgement. Penney’s appointment, a bit like Foz, has a similar stench of the incumbent having too much say in his replacement. They are lacking a truly high quality and experienced 10 which will make it hard for them to go the whole way IMO, but the list of teams who would want to play them in the finals will be very short.
17 Go to commentsWhere’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
159 Go to commentsIf a coach having Crusaders heritage is so sacrosanct, why did the Crusaders not pursue Vern Cotter as Scott Robertson’s replacement?
17 Go to commentsFinau is definitely operating on razor thin margins. He hasn’t done anything wrong… yet. But a player going into contact 6 inches lower than he is expecting, without him even knowing, will end in disaster. You can imagine a situation where the pass dies on Edmed and he has to bend down a little lower to catch it at the last second. Finau’s hit would have been catastrophic. The margins are just too fine. He needs to study how PSDT, at 6’7”, manages to drop his tackle height and exert just as much force with close zero danger of taking someone’s head off. Given how poorly NZ has adapted to lower their tackle height, and that this issue which has plagued the ABs for years and played a big part in them not winning the World Cup, I thought NZR and all SR coaches would be prioritising sorting this issue out. If I was Razor I would be on the phone to Clayton MacMillan and Samipeni Finau saying exactly that. Finau is a monster and shaping up to be the closest thing to Kaino since Kaino, but I wouldn’t risk selecting him for the ABs at the moment.
18 Go to commentsThe surprising stat I saw in the Blues game when showing Sotutu equaling the Blues forwards record was that Akira has not scored a try since 2019. Now my memory is pretty bad when it comes to those sorts of the things, I can remember his AB try though, but anyway I can’t see I can remember his last blues touchdown or any in recent years. Surely that still has to be a bogus stat. Maybe excludes SRA games?
3 Go to commentsDude to me looks pretty fast for a big man, nearly 2m and 130kg, in his workout vid he was signed off. Possibly a bit slow on his reads movement wise though, but I’ve not got anything to compare him to. Hope the dude nails it and finds his sport, could have been a devastating lock in rugby if he wasn’t a footballer growing up.
4 Go to commentsWell, does that make it every year Moana has lost it’s best player the following year? Normally it’s more immediate I guess, at least there best player had a follow up year this time.
1 Go to commentsFinally, an answer to Dan Carter.
1 Go to commentsNever read such tripe. He was hit just as he passed the ball which was reviewed and deemed legal by yes the Australian TMO and referee
18 Go to commentsTerrible idea…will be too hot, no one will travel, fan zones will be promised nice cold guinness and last minute will get water. Also how do you squeeze this into the already busy battle rhythm, Prem, summer series, 6 nations & world cup….if, and its a big IF you’re going to do this, do it in a rugby nation.
2 Go to commentsWell let’s hope world rugby doesn't read some of this nonsense, because next on the agenda will be…“players will only tackle other players deemed to be in their weight class, and only with moderate velocity”.
18 Go to commentsI was never allowed to adjust boots, or ever replaced, while I was playing and staying on the field. If I had issues, I had to go to the sideline and fix them myself. Then I would ask the ref to get back in. That would really make you deal with it FAST!
4 Go to commentsGreat point. It would be terrible to have a card for poor tackling cost the all blacks a world cup. Oh hi all blacks captain Sam Cane, how you going?
18 Go to commentsI like Andy’s critical approach to all hot issues especially when it comes to the rugby big “bosses”. However, sorry Andy, I don’t support your “we shouldn’t be questioning the integrity of Karl Dickson or any other official”. May I ask why? They do have a lot of responsibility, but they are people like us with all their sins and weaknesses. We have to respect their decision during the games, but why they became untouchable afterwards and people cannot even criticize them and the ones, who does express their concerns, got punished for publicly analyzing their mistakes and asking questions. If they believe they did right, there shouldn’t be a problem for any of the refs to answer these “questions” publicly. I don’t really remember such cases. However, I do remember how Craig Joubert shown his running skills in 2015 or Pascal Gauzere shined in Cardiff in 2021. I do believe that Rassie, as anybody else, had a full right to share his vision of Nic Berry’s performance the same year. I do not support the hate in any form especially in public one, but creating the cast of untouchable refs and rugby bosses is not for me. As for Karl, he had all means to question his appointment for the game and since I don’t now whether he did it, blaming just RFU wouldn’t be quite correct at this moment. I love the game of rugby and almost every time I watch it I don’t support any team, I just wanna see the good game and fair referring. Sorry, Karl. last Saturday you got my Craig Joubert”s award of the round. It is up to Karl to prove that I am wrong, not to Andy or RFU’s corporate bla-bla-bla. Something like that…
1 Go to commentswell remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
17 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
18 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
4 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
4 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
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