1
Ex-All Blacks hooker Dane Coles confirms new coaching gig
By Ian Cameron
The Wellington Lions have announced that former All Black Dane Coles will join as a spot coach for the 2024 Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition.
Coles - who debuted for the Lions in 2007 and earned 71 caps - is a well-known figure in Wellington rugby.
Born and raised in the region, Coles has spent his entire domestic career with Poneke, the Lions, and the Hurricanes. The club say his addition to the coaching staff brings extensive experience and a deep connection to Wellington rugby.
“Wellington has given me so much throughout my career, and for me to give back to the game and the Union that started it all is a no brainer really,” says Coles.
“I’ve got some great memories with the Lions. My time in the black and yellow jersey is done, but I’m excited to direct my energy and efforts into coaching and hopefully giving back to the next generation of players.”
Wellington Lions Head Coach Alando Soakai welcomed the new addition.
“I first reached out to Colesy and asked whether he was keen to play. He mentioned coaching, and the rest is history.”
“We know he’s got a lot of knowledge to pass onto the next generation of hookers, and we’re lucky to have him. For him to offer some of his time to us, is a testament to his incredible character, and his love for the Lions, the team that started it all.”
WRFU CEO Tony Giles shared these sentiments, adding “We’re honoured that Colesy has offered up his time to move into a spot coaching role with us. The level of talent and mana that he’ll bring to the table is huge, and we’re excited to see what our coaching group will achieve this season.”
The Wellington Lions will start their season against Auckland at Eden Park on Friday the 9th of August.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
'All of our own doing': John Mitchell's warning for England
3
Bidding war heating up for 6'6, 18 stone centre Zack Wimbush
4
Fissler Confidential: Ox to exit? 7 clubs enter bidding war
5
Latest Comments
Whether World rugby gives teams .05 of a point for hammering a minnow or rounds it down to zero are both trivial in terms of the rankings. You don't get points for hammering minnows but in general you get points for beating opponents who are not relavent minnows. Your point is for anoraks, its irrelevant to this conversation.
I was replying to an idiot who maintained that Ireland benefitted from a biased ranking system. You seemed to be agreeing with this? Otherwise toss off you numbskull.
Go to commentsDon't like these questions trying to reignite a row.
Curry and Bongi know what happenned there.
Regardless of what was said the English media's reaction was f***ing outrageous.
Clearly most of the self righteousness was sour grapes for losing the semi. Dominating the pre final interviews with self important scores of questions re CurryGate and nothing on the rugby is unforgivable.
Solisi said that the English media is F**ked up.
It is all about England winning, no matter what the sport: and they will turn on everyone and anyone when that doesn't happen as it sells papers for him. In 2023 it was Bongi. The papers in question could honestly not give a flying f**k about racism. On the country they spend their time attacking minorities and non -whites.
So when the great SA captain says they are f***ed up. He is right on many levels.
Diego Maradona was the greatest soccer player to play the game. But his entire legacy in England the supposed 'home of rugby' was his handball against them. 40 years later at his death they were still going on about it. Gladly he was still taking the piss of them over it til the end!
Go to comments