Former All Black, now Whanganui police officer Glen Osborne to compete in Dancing with the Stars NZ

Glen Osborne and dance teacher Vanessa Cole hope the Whanganui and Christchurch communities will support them during Dancing with the Stars NZ.

His tough hunting and farming mates might think he's clowning around but Glen "Ozzy" Osborne has a serious message behind his tilt at Dancing with the Stars NZ.

The Whanganui police constable and former All Black fullback has been announced as one of the line-up in this year's television contest, teaming up with dance partner Vanessa Cole.

Osborne says he entered the contest because "they asked me and I think it's a bloody good thing to do".

"I was very surprised and I thought 'geez, that's an honour'," Osborne said.

"Some pretty high profile people have done it in the past. I thought that's pretty cool."

His previous dancing experience was "a little bit of rock n roll" a few years ago.

"I loved it. I was never any good but I had a go."

Osborne is now in rehearsals for the television show, training three to five hours a day as well as continuing to work full-time, and says his fitness is playing a big part.

"I always keep myself fit. Definitely fitness is a big thing in dancing."

His employer, New Zealand Police, is very supportive of his involvement in the show, Osborne said, and his chosen charity relates to his work as a police officer.

He has chosen Women's Refuge and says the decision reflects a lot of the work police are involved in.

"It's what we deal with here in Whanganui and around New Zealand. We're dealing with families that are broken, psychologically abused. Women's Refuge is an organisation that try and do their best with what they have. They are under-resourced and they do a fantastic job with what they do in giving immediate help."
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Osborne and Cole are the only team not based in Auckland. Cole, a previous winner of Dancing with the Stars NZ with partner Simon Barnett, is from Christchurch and Osborne said they hoped the Whanganui and Christchurch communities would support them.

"All my tough hunting and farming mates think I'm clowning around but my family is really supportive," Osborne said.

"I have a great teacher. Vanessa has won it before and been in the finals with other partners."

The 2019 season of Dancing with the Stars NZ starts on Three on April 14.