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 on December 10, 1986, is a famous former rugby player from New Zealand. He played in the position of 'hooker'.
He was a very important player for the New Zealand team that won the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In 2016, he led the Hurricanes team to win their first-ever Super Rugby championship. Many people thought he was one of the best 'hookers' (a position in rugby) in the world. He was even nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award in 2016.
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Early Life and School
Dane Coles grew up in New Zealand. He went to Paraparaumu College and Wellington College for his schooling.
Rugby Career Highlights
Starting with the All Blacks
In 2012, Dane Coles played his first game for the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team. This was against Scotland. He joined the game in the 62nd minute. New Zealand won that match 51 to 22.
He played three more games as a substitute in 2012. In 2013, he got his first chance to start a game for New Zealand against France. By 2014, Coles was a regular starter for the All Blacks. He even took over the starting spot from the experienced player Keven Mealamu.
World Cup Success
Coles was a key player in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He started in the important knockout games, including the final match against Australia. New Zealand won the final 34 to 17. This victory made New Zealand the first team to win two World Cup titles in a row.
Leading the Hurricanes
After the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the Hurricanes' captain, Conrad Smith, left the team. Dane Coles was then chosen to be the new captain of the Hurricanes for the 2016 season.
Under his leadership, the Hurricanes won their first-ever Super Rugby title in 2016. This was a huge achievement for the team.
Awards and Recognition
Coles is of Ngāti Porou descent, which is a Māori tribe. In 2016, he received the Tom French Memorial Cup. This award is given to the best Māori rugby player of the year.
He scored four tries in 2016, making him the highest-scoring forward in the All Blacks squad that year. He was also nominated for New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year and World Rugby Player of the Year. However, his Hurricanes teammate Beauden Barrett won both of those awards.
Later Career and Injuries
Coles played in the first three games of the 2017 Super Rugby season for the Hurricanes. However, he suffered a concussion in March and missed many games. He also missed the test series against the British and Irish Lions.
He returned to play in the Super Rugby quarter-final in July 2017. He also earned his 50th test cap for the All Blacks in a win against Australia in August. Coles continued to be a starting player for the rest of the 2017 Rugby Championship.
In a game against France, Coles scored a try. However, he had to leave the game early due to a serious knee injury (ACL tear). This injury meant he missed all of the 2018 Super Rugby season.
After recovering from his injury, Coles returned to play for New Zealand in late 2018. He played four tests during the 2018 end-of-year rugby union internationals.
In 2021, Coles led the traditional Māori haka for the All Blacks four times. In July 2021, he scored four tries in a match against Fiji. This set a new record for an All Blacks forward in a single game.
After the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Coles joined the Japanese club Kubota Spears.
How Dane Coles Played
Coles was known as a very modern 'hooker' in rugby. He was strong and powerful, which is important for his position. But he was also very fast and could move well around the field.
He was good at passing the ball, which is not common for players in his position. His unique skills allowed him to join in different plays and even make fast runs like a winger. Many experts said that Coles "revolutionized" the role of a modern hooker because of his impressive playing style.
Achievements and Awards
New Zealand National Team
- Rugby World Cup
- Winner: 2015
- Third Place: 2019
- Second Place: 2023
Hurricanes Club Team
- Super Rugby
- Winner: 2016
Individual Awards
- Nominee for World Rugby Player of the Year: 2016
See also
In Spanish: Dane Coles para niños
