Coles digs in to 2021
The All Blacks and Hurricanes have Dane Coles’ 16-year-old self to thank for him staying put.
The 32-year-old announced in Wellington yesterday he has signed a new deal that will keep him in the country until the end of 2021, giving New Zealand Rugby a huge boost. And it was a simple question he asked himself after the end-of-year tour which helped him make his mind up.
‘‘I had to ask my 16-year-old self what I wanted to do. I’ve never played rugby to chase money, it was always to play for the love of the game and play for the All Blacks and Canes.’’
That love of the game in New Zealand has not been strong enough for some of his All Blacks team-mates, with a host moving overseas after the Rugby World Cup.
Ben Smith and Nehe Milner-Skudder have already announced their departures, to Pau and Toulon respectively, while All Blacks captain Kieran Read has also said that this will be his last year in New Zealand.
Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick also look likely to sign one-year deals in Japan, while Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams are also off contract.
Coles’ Hurricanes team-mate Matt Proctor has already announced his departure to UK club Northampton at the end of the year at the age of 26.
Coles said he hoped more experienced players might follow his lead and stay in New Zealand, but understood why so many chose to leave.
‘‘Everyone is different and I can only speak from how I feel. I thought about it over summer and reflected on what that 16-year-old boy wanted to do and that was honestly to play for the All Blacks and Hurricanes.
‘‘It would be awesome to see other guys stay in New Zealand, but people have got families to support and other goals in life and that’s totally up to them.
‘‘But it’s not the end of the world staying in New Zealand, it’s a beautiful place to live with great people and that’s why I want to stay.’’
Coles said he barely entertained the thought of moving to another team, even on a short-term deal.
Part of that was he wretched run of injuries over the past few years, part of it was having his wife and two kids settled.
‘‘My manager had a little bit of a look overseas, but I never really told him to go any further with clubs. New Zealand [Rugby] came to the party and the Hurricanes, so my decision was pretty easy.
‘‘There might be an option for that further down the track [for short-term deals], but I never really wanted that.
‘‘I’ve been out for a little while and my focus is really on wanting to play for the Hurricanes and All Blacks. Those seasons are full on enough to then have a little fourmonth stint in Japan or whatever, I’ll be resting up and getting my body right for the following season.’’
NZR chief executive Steve Tew was understandably pleased to have Coles re-signed in what continues to be a very competitive international player market.
Coles now faces a tough personal contest to regain his starting All Blacks jersey.
In his absence Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor has taken his own game to a new level and their rivalry will be one of the subplots to the upcoming Super Rugby season. He has arrived at Hurricanes training earlier in the pre-season than his All Blacks team-mates to make sure he is ready for that challenge.