All Blacks star hooker Dane Coles announced today that he will stay in New Zealand until the end of 2021, saying the passion is still there to play for the black jersey and for the Hurricanes.
Coles, 32, announced this morning that he has signed a new deal with NZ Rugby and the Hurricanes.
The 60-Test All Blacks hooker said his decision was easy and straight forward.
"Everyone has got different situations, I can only personally talk from my perspective," said Coles.
"Like I probably had to ask my 16-year-old self, what would I have wanted to do?
"I never played rugby to chase money, it was always I wanted to play for the love of the game and play for the All Blacks and play for the Canes."
Coles returned to international rugby at the end of 2018 for the All Blacks, playing against Japan in November after 12 months out of the game due to a knee injury.
"Everyone is different and I can only speak from how I feel and that was a big thing for me, I thought about it over the summer. Reflected on what that 16-year old boy wanted to do," Coles said.
"And that was honestly to play for the All Blacks and Hurricanes, it would be awesome to see other guys stay in New Zealand but people got families to support."
Coles said he has no problem seeing former teammates sign big lucrative deals to play overseas, saying everyone's circumstances are different.
"They (New Zealand rugby players) have other goals in life and that is totally up to them, but you know it's not the end of the world to stay in New Zealand.
"It's a beautiful place to live in and great people and that is why I've wanted to stay."
But the Hurricanes hooker hasn't ruled out possibly playing overseas for a short while later in his rugby career.
"There might be an option further down the track but I never really kind of wanted [to]," he said.
"Like I have been out for a little while, my focus, I really want to play for that Hurricanes team and the All Blacks and those seasons are full on enough.
"To have a little four month stint in whatever, Japan. I'll be resting up getting my body ready for the following season."
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