The Springboks have paid tribute to former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read who has decided to hang up his boots after an illustrious career. Photo: Twitter @springboks
Springboks pay tribute to retiring All Blacks legend
The Springboks have paid tribute to former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read who has decided to hang up his boots after an illustrious career.
The Springboks have paid tribute to former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read who has decided to hang up his boots after an illustrious career. Photo: Twitter @springboks
The Springboks have paid tribute to former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read who has decided to hang up his boots after an illustrious career.
READ | JEAN DE VILLIERS PICKS HIS SPRINGBOK CENTRE COMBINATION FOR SERIES
Kieran Read, the third most-capped player in New Zealand rugby history, confirmed before leading Toyota Verblitz against the Panasonic Wild Knights on Saturday that he would finish playing at the end of the Japanese season.
That came at the final whistle of the match as Verblitz lost 48-21, unable to extend Read’s storied career to next weekend’s final.
“I’m looking forward to returning to New Zealand and spending time with my family,” Kieran Read posted on social media.
READ | ALL BLACKS MOVE QUICKLY TO REPLACE CANCELLED ITALY TESTS
The towering No 8 made 127 Test appearances for New Zealand, 52 of them as captain after taking over the armband from Richie McCaw in 2016.
He was part of two Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks sides and was voted World Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2013.
At club level, he won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders.
The Springboks wrote on their social media pages on Monday, “Congratulations on a great career and many tough battles on the field. Enjoy your retirement, Kieran Read!”
READ | BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD: BREAKDOWN BY COUNTRY
