Hurricanes hooker Dan Coles commits to New Zealand Rugby
Thursday 4 June 2015 23:37, UK
Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles has become the third All Black to commit long-term to New Zealand Rugby (NZR) after signing a new deal until 2019.
The news follows quickly on from last week's announcement that his 'Canes team-mate Julian Savea and Chiefs second row Brodie Retallick had also signed four-year deals with NZR.
Hailing from the Kapiti Coast north of Wellington, Coles made his provincial debut for Wellington and national debut for New Zealand Under-21s in 2007 ahead of his Super Rugby debut in 2009.
He claimed the Hurricanes starting jersey in the 2012 season, turning in a series of performances that attracted the eye of the All Blacks selectors, who picked him for the year-end European Tour.
He featured in all four matches, making his Test debut against Scotland in Edinburgh and has now played 27 Tests and scored two tries.
Coles, 28, insisted that playing for the All Blacks and Hurricanes was all he had ever wanted to do, and representing the two teams was still at the forefront of his mind ahead of his country's World Cup defence in the autumn.
He said: "I'm definitely not at the stage where I want to head overseas yet. Both teams mean a huge deal to me and I really want to play for a club, and team, that I have that strong connection with.
"My family and friends are also close by which is still important to me, and so I'm just thankful for the opportunity both New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes have given me to stay on."
Hurricanes forwards coach Richard Watt said: "Colesy is an awesome signing for the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby. It's also a great reward for a guy who's put in a lot of hard work to get where he is as the number one hooker in the country.
"He'll be part of a Hurricanes team that will hopefully kick on from this year and have some real success over the next few years, and there's no doubt his signing will be a huge part of that happening."
