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Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Relishing new role CLOE WILLETTS All Black Dane Coles, who grew up in Paraparaumu, is having one of his biggest tests yet, following the birth of his first child. Having left his Lyall Baybased home for the All Blacks’ end of year tour on Sunday, Dane is relying on social media to keep in daily contact with his fiancee Sarah Smith, and their five-week-old son Jax Ronnie Coles. “It’ll be pretty hard having him away on tour for the next four weeks, but after that he’ll have a month off,” said Sarah, who gave birth to the pair’s son at Wellington Hospital on September 26. “I’m used to him being away because it’s been a steady adjustment in our relationship, from him making the Lions, to the Hurricanes, and now the All Blacks.” Describing Jax’s birth as a “pretty special experience,” Sarah had a fast but intense four-hour labour that saw her contractions start around 9am, and end with Ronnie born by 1pm. “Dane said he has a new appreciation for women after seeing what we go through,” laughed Sarah, who described her partner’s parenting style as “very attentive”. “We didn’t really know what to expect so it was pretty overwhelming, but he was amazing, and might have had a little tear.” With Jax’s middle name chosen after Dane’s grandfather, the mini rugbyfan-in-the-making is described by family and friends as looking most like his father. “The first two days with Jax were pretty full on, and then Dane went away for a week,” Sarah said. “When he came back from Africa, it was kind of a time for us to adjust as a family and try to get a routine going.” Engaged and set to marry in December next year, after being together 10 years, the new parents had a taste for their son’s rugby enthusiasm
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HAPPY TIMES: All Black Dane Coles and fiancee Sarah Smith with their son Jax. PHOTO: KAP271014SPLDANE
Dane said he has a new appreciation for women after seeing what we go through.
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FIANCEE SARAH SMITH
when Sarah was pregnant. “I’d be watching Dane play on television, and obviously be a bit excited or nervous, and Jax would be kicking in my stomach, and everyone said he was cheering on his dad.” With the game in Brisbane the first All Black match seen by Jax, during a night-time feed, the pair watched as Dane scored his second try. For Dane, who will take his young family over to the UK next year if he is selected to play for the Rugby World Cup, there is no game quite as rewarding as parenthood. “Being responsible for a person’s life is pretty scary, but just knowing I’m a father is pretty special,” he said. Dane, who felt “a lot of happiness and relief” when Jax was born, said foremost he hopes to instil traits in his son that will see him grow up to be “respectful, humble and enjoy life”. “It’s been pretty hard not being there, and being away you see how much they change every day, and really notice how much they’ve grown. “We’ve had great support from both our families, which makes things a lot easier, and luckily Sarah understands the job I’m in. “So far she has been beyond awesome, I’m very proud of them both.”
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ACTION: All Blacks hooker Dane Coles in action against England, during the 2nd test match of the Steinlager Series between the All Blacks and England, held at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Saturday 14 June. NEW ZEALAND HERALD PHOTOGRAPH BY BRETT PHIBBS
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