Dane Coles joins New Zealand Rugby Panel to select next All Blacks Coach

New Zealand Rugby has confirmed that former All Blacks hooker Dane Coles is the recently retired player appointed to its panel overseeing the next All Blacks head coach appointment process.

NZR had earlier announced a five-member panel made up of board chair David Kirk, former All Black Keven Mealamu, interim chief executive Steve Lancaster and former Black Sox coach Don Tricker.

Coles completes the group, bringing recent elite playing experience into the selection process.

Coles retired from international rugby in 2023 after an 11-year Test career in which he earned 90 caps for the New Zealand.

His return to the All Blacks environment is intended to provide a current player’s perspective during the evaluation process.

The panel’s role is to oversee succession planning around the All Blacks coaching position, with Scott Robertson sacked from the head coach role last month.

Potential future coaching candidates previously linked to the role included Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie, with an official announcement expected to be made in due course of time.