He made NZ Schools along with future All Blacks TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua and Codie Taylor.

Cane was retained as the Chiefs' co-captain by new head coach Colin Cooper for the 2018 Super Rugby season, with departing midfielder Charlie Ngatai selected as the other captain.

His starting debut came in the final match of the series in front of his home crowd in Hamilton, giving a stand out performance that included 16 tackles and two tries.

Cane came off the bench in the knockout rounds of the World Cup, replacing retiring All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in the last minute of the 34-17 victory over Australia in the tournament final on 31 October 2015.

2016 was a mixed season for Cane, largely due to injury and having to lend his starting jersey to Matt Todd and rookie Ardie Savea.

Cane only lasted 18 minutes the following week against Ireland, leaving the field for a head injury assessment and being replaced by Savea for the rest of the 21-9 win.

He captained the Chiefs to the semi-finals of Super Rugby and was selected in the All Blacks' 33-man squad for the 2017 Pasifika Challenge against Samoa and the three-test series against the touring British and Irish Lions.

Cane made five appearances for New Zealand on the 2017 end-of-season tour and scored two tries, making headlines alongside replacement prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi for great tackles in the third Bledisloe Cup, a 18-23 loss which was also his 50th cap.

Cane was tipped by media to Captain the All Blacks for the third time in his career, against Wales, but lost out to outstanding Crusaders lock and 96-test veteran Sam Whitelock.

Cane and replacement prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi both tackled French winger Rémy Grosso high, causing a head clash between the three players.

[9] Cane was immediately replaced by Hurricanes loose forward, Ardie Savea, who went on to score the All Blacks' winning try, allowing them to beat South Africa 32-30.

Sam Cane was an integral member of the Rugby World Cup 2019 All Blacks squad, appearing in nearly all the matches, and eventually claimed third place in a win over Wales.

He led his team to victory by 28-24 against Ireland in the quarter-final and a comprehensive 44-6 win over Argentina to secure a place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa.

[19][20] In an interview after the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final, Cane said that there were "obviously so many shit [sic] emotions, on a personal level and on behalf of the team", but added that he felt "a heck of a lot of pride with the way the boys fought out there tonight".