All Blacks hooker Dane Coles comes out of retirement to join Kubota Spears

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has backtracked from his retirement as he heads to Japan to continue his professional rugby career.

Coles announced in February that he will be quitting his playing career post the recently concluded Rugby World Cup in France but now will join Japan Rugby League One champions the Kubota Spears.

His signing is a replacement for Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, who will miss the upcoming season that kicks-off in December due to a knee injury that he sustained in the World Cup.

Coles made his professional rugby debut with Wellington in 2007 with his Super Rugby debut for Hurricanes coming two years later. He has racked up over 100 appearances in Super Rugby and also led them to a title win in 2016.

The 36-year-old also has been capped 90 times having made his Test debut for New Zealand in 2012 and was last seen playing during their World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland.

"We would like to inform you that it has been decided that Dane Coles will join the Kubota Spears Funabashi/Tokyo Bay as an additional player for the 2023-24 season. Dane Coles is scheduled to join the team on December 1st," read a social media post from the club.