Cory Jane to receive Super centurions gift

Apr 8 • General News, Super Rugby • 1151 Views • Comments Off on Cory Jane to receive Super centurions gift

Hurricanes winger Cory Jane will be presented with a greenstone mere tomorrow night after he joins an exclusive group of players to record playing 100 matches for a New Zealand Investec Super Rugby team.

When his team hosts the Jaguares at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium tomorrow, the 33-year old will become just the ninth player to earn a century of caps at the Hurricanes after Tana Umaga, Rodney So’oialo, Neemia Tialata, Ma’a Nonu, Andrew Hore, Conrad Smith, Ben Franks and Jeremy Thrush. He will also be the 41st player to notch up the milestone playing all matches for a New Zealand team.

Jane made his debut against the Reds in Brisbane in 2007 in a match where he scored the first of 24 tries he has notched up for the Hurricanes. His dazzling footwork and reliability under the high ball became a trademark of his game, as he went on to debut for the All Blacks the following year, in his first of 53 Test matches.

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew congratulated Jane on reaching the rare milestone.

“CJ joins a very exclusive group – 100 matches in Investec Super Rugby is a remarkable accomplishment in itself – but to run out 100 times for the same team – that’s something special.

“He has delighted and thrilled fans with his skills on the field, but his ability to entertain and relate to fans off the field makes him a fantastic ambassador for the game and for his home town of Upper Hutt,” Tew said.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said Jane’s achievement was a significant one for any player.

“It’s a mark of his professionalism that he’s kept himself in such great nick over such a long time. He’s been a real servant for the Hurricanes and for that the club should be very grateful.”

Jane joins Josh Bekhuis (Blues) as the second New Zealander to reach the milestone in 2016.

Jane will be presented with a greenstone mere, New Zealand Rugby’s traditional gift for New Zealand Super Rugby centurions, at the conclusion of their Round 7 match.