Dane Coles

Dane Coles is perfectly suited to the faster, more mobile nature of modern rugby. The dynamic hooker is never far from the action in any match and has quickly gained a reputation as an exciting, natural ball player with speed to burn. Fresh-faced Dane Coles literally burst on to the provincial scene in 2007, scoring two tries on debut off the bench for the Vodafone Wellington Lions against Otago late in the match, first crashing over from short range and then outpacing the cover defence in an electric run to the line from 40 metres out.

He had only been on the field for less than 30 seconds against Otago before scoring the first of his two tries and is only the second player after Steve Skinnon to score twice on championship debut for Wellington, Skinnon having done so against Taranaki in 1996.

Coles went on to make seven more appearances for the Lions in the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup and scored one further try against Tasman as he continued to set pulses racing whenever the action came his way. These included runs off the bench in each of the last five games in place of an injured Tone Kopelani and also included game time in each of the three play-off matches against Southland, Canterbury and Auckland respectively.

Dane Coles has been recognised for the first time at national level with his inclusion in the New Zealand Under 21 squad in 2007.

In 2010 he was selected into the New Zealand Maori, and the hooker who cites Keven Mealamu as his idol will look to continue his rise through the local rugby ranks.