Dane Coles facts for kids
Coles representing New Zealand during the November Internationals
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| Full name | Dane Stuart Coles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 10 December 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Paraparaumu, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Paraparaumu College Wellington College |
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dane Stuart Coles (born 10 December 1986) is a famous former New Zealand rugby player. He played as a hooker, a key position in the game.
Coles was a very important part of the All Blacks team that won the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He also led the Hurricanes team to win their first-ever Super Rugby title in 2016. Many people thought he was one of the best hookers in the world during his career. He was even nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016.
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Growing Up and School
Dane Coles grew up in Paraparaumu, New Zealand. He went to Paraparaumu Beach School when he was younger. Later, he attended Paraparaumu College and Wellington College. These schools helped him develop his rugby skills.
Playing for the All Blacks
First Steps in International Rugby
In 2012, Dane Coles made his first appearance for the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team. This big moment happened in a game against Scotland. He joined the game in the second half.
In 2013, Coles earned his first start for the All Blacks in a match against France. This showed he was becoming a regular player for the team.
Becoming a Key Player
By 2014, Coles had become a regular starter for the All Blacks. He scored his first try (like a touchdown in American football) against South Africa that year. He took over the starting hooker role from the experienced All Black player, Keven Mealamu.
Coles played a huge part in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He started in the important knockout games, including the final against Australia. New Zealand won that game 34–17. This made the All Blacks the first team to win two World Cups in a row!
Awards and Recognition
In 2016, Dane Coles received the Tom French Memorial Cup. This award is given to the best Māori rugby player of the year. Coles is of Ngāti Porou descent, which is a Māori tribe.
That same year, he scored four tries, making him the highest-scoring forward in the All Blacks squad. He was also nominated for New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year and World Rugby Player of the Year. His Hurricanes teammate, Beauden Barrett, won both awards.
Leading the Hurricanes
After the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the Hurricanes' captain, Conrad Smith, left New Zealand. Dane Coles was then chosen to be the new captain of the Hurricanes team for the 2016 season.
As captain, Coles led the Hurricanes to win their first-ever Super Rugby title in 2016. This was a huge achievement for the team and for Coles as a leader.
Facing Challenges and Comebacks
Injuries and Recovery
In 2017, Coles faced a tough time with injuries. He got a concussion in March and missed many games, including the series against the British and Irish Lions. He also lost the Hurricanes captaincy to TJ Perenara.
Coles returned to play in the Super Rugby quarter-final in July 2017. He later earned his 50th test cap for the All Blacks in a win against Australia. However, he tore his ACL (a knee ligament) later that year, which kept him out of action for a long time.
He missed all of the 2018 Super Rugby season because of his ACL injury. It took him a long time to recover and be able to run again. Brad Shields captained the Hurricanes in his absence.
Return to the Field
After a long recovery, Coles was called back to play for New Zealand in late 2018. He played four test matches, often coming off the bench. Codie Taylor had become the first-choice hooker during Coles' injury.
In 2021, Coles showed his leadership by leading the Ka Mate haka for the All Blacks four times. The haka is a traditional Māori dance performed before games. On 10 July 2021, he scored four tries against Fiji. This set a new record for an All Blacks forward in a single match!
Playing Style
Dane Coles is known for his unique playing style as a hooker. Traditionally, hookers are strong players who focus on the scrum and lineout. However, Coles was also very fast and mobile across the field.
He could pass the ball well and even join in attacking plays like an extra backline player. His speed allowed him to make impressive runs on the wing, which is unusual for a front-row player. Many experts say he "revolutionised" the role of the modern hooker with his skills.
Moving to Japan
After the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Dane Coles signed with a Japanese club team called Kubota Spears. This marked a new chapter in his rugby career.
Honours
New Zealand
- Rugby World Cup / Webb Ellis Cup
- Winner: 2015
- Third-place: 2019
- Second-place: 2023
Hurricanes
- Winner Super Rugby - 2016
Individual Awards
- IRB Player of the Year Nominee - 2016
- Tom French Memorial Cup - 2016
See also
In Spanish: Dane Coles para niños
