Kieran Read

Kieran Read is an All Blacks legend who retired from the game in 2021. In total, he was capped 128 times by New Zealand and racked up a host of domestic and international honours, including two Rugby World Cups and four Super Rugby titles.

Although he was a talented cricketer in his younger years, Kieran Read decided to focus his efforts on rugby. His domestic career began in 2006, when he started to represent Canterbury. Due to his strong performances for the side, he began to play for the Crusaders in Super Rugby only a year later.

Kieran Read then spent the bulk of his domestic career representing both sides (although he left Canterbury for Counties Manukau in 2017). Between 2007 and 2019, he made more than 150 appearances for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, winning the tournament four times. Of these victories, three came in his final three seasons with the club in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

When he left the Crusaders at the end of 2019, Kieran Read signed for Toyota Verblitz in Japan. He then retired from the game in 2021.

Although he’s highly decorated domestically, Kieran Read is undoubtedly best known for his career as an All Black, which spanned from 2008 to 2019. During this time, he captained the side 52 times, won the Rugby World Cup twice and was voted as the IRB Player of the Year in 2013. The Bronze Final at the 2019 Rugby World Cup was his last appearance for the side and he led the pre-match haka.

When he announced his retirement in May 2021, Kieran Read said he was looking forward to returning to New Zealand and spending more time with his family.