All Blacks legend calls it quits after 17-year career

All Blacks large Dane Coles has announced his impending status from planetary rugby.

Coles volition bring his illustrious 17-year-long vocation to an extremity pursuing this year's Rugby World Cup successful France.

Come 2023, the 36-year-old seasoned hooker volition measurement distant from nonrecreational rugby.

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He represented Wellington successful the National Provincial Championship, the Hurricanes successful Super Rugby, the Maori All Blacks internationally, and the All Blacks astatine Test lucifer level.

Dane Coles acknowledges fans with his bronze medal aft the 2019 Rugby World Cup bronze last lucifer betwixt New Zealand and Wales. (Dan Mullan via Getty Images)

"Thank you to Pōneke FC, Wellington, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks for giving maine my imagination job," said Coles.

"I'm looking guardant to enjoying the twelvemonth and creating immoderate caller memories."

Coles presently sits third-equal adjacent to Ardie Savea connected the all-time scorers' database for All Blacks forwards.

Only All Blacks legends Richie McCaw (135) and Kieren Read (130) beryllium supra Coles and Savea. 

Coles is besides the 3rd astir capped hooker successful All Blacks past with 84 caps to his credit, conscionable down Keven Mealamu (132) and Sean Fitzpatrick (92).

All Blacks manager Ian Foster hailed Coles' contribution.

Dane Coles volition discontinue from nonrecreational rugby astatine the extremity of 2023. (Mark Kolbe via Getty Images)

"Dane is simply a 100 percent committed, loves his family, loves his rugby," said Foster.

"And determination is nary uncertainty astir his implicit committedness to the Hurricanes and the All Black jersey."

Among Coles' achievements are captaining the Hurricanes connected their mode to the 2016 Super Rugby title.

He was besides portion of the Rugby World Cup winning squad successful 2015 and was a World Rugby Player of the Year nominee.

Coles is the latest experienced caput to telephone it quits astatine the extremity of the year.

Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick person each revealed they volition measurement distant from the New Zealand Rugby fold aft the World Cup.

The All Blacks volition look France successful the tournament-opener aboriginal this year.

Before that, the All Blacks volition play Argentina, South Africa, and Australia connected location soil.

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