'It would be the ultimate send off': Dane Coles hints 2021 may be his last year with Hurricanes and All Blacks
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
A decision on whether the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa and other test matches in July will go ahead will soon be made by World Rugby.https://t.co/ZcaCkLyvXA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2021
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.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments