New Zealand’s star hooker Dane Coles is back training after an extended break with concussion symptoms but isn’t anywhere fit enough to even be considered for Super Rugby,
All Blacks head coach Steven Hansen did have some positive news on Coles.
“Colesy’s made really good progress,” he said on Saturday ahead of New Zealand’s first test against the British and Irish Lions in Auckland.
LIONS LATEST
-
Lions player ratings v New Zealand
-
How a Lion fan ended up sleeping on an All Blacks floor
-
WATCH: Sean O’Brien finishes off AMAZING try
-
Which Lion went to the MOST expensive school?
“He’s back training, he appears to be cleared of most of his symptoms.”
Because Coles had been out for so long, he wasn’t fit enough for either test or Super Rugby, Hansen said.
“We’ve put him now into what we’re calling a pre-season training block. He’ll stay with us and do that throughout the next three weeks, then go back to his franchise and they’ll continue that.”
Hansen said Coles will return “when he’s deemed rugby-ready and fit enough for the vigours of Super Rugby”.