Kieran Read set to announce post-World Cup future
All Blacks captain Kieran Read will announce his playing future after this year's World Cup at a press conference in Christchurch this afternoon.
The 33-year-old loose forward is widely expected to take up an offshore deal after 11 years of service for the All Blacks, telling the New Zealand Herald last year that he would step down from the national side after the World Cup.
Since then, Read had been linked with moves to Europe, with RMC reporting that French club Racing 92 tabled him a three-year contract worth NZ$6 million to join their star-studded squad to play alongside fellow New Zealanders Dominic Bird and Joe Rokocoko.
However, it is understood a switch to the Japanese Top League beckons.
While L'Equipe last month suggested that a potential move to the Kobelco Steelers to play with former teammates Dan Carter and Andy Ellis was on the cards, RugbyPass understands that Toyota Verblitz stands as the club most likely to acquire Read's services.
The three-time Japanese champions are coached by former World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White, and feature multiple Japanese internationals and a handful of foreign players, including New Zealanders Shneil Singh and Steven Yates.
A move to Japan appears to be the best option for Read after the World Cup.
There would be plenty of appeal of playing in a less physical competition such as the Top League in comparison to the European competitions for Read, especially after significant surgeries on his wrist and back ruled him out of large chunks of the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Additionally, the prospect of a 'double season' in Japan next year as a result of the nation hosting the World Cup in six months' time would result in a large payday, while the geographic proximity of Japan to New Zealand in comparison to Europe is another selling point for Read and his young family.
Read would join the growing exodus of players heading overseas following the World Cup, with Ben Smith (Pau), Owen Franks (Northampton), Waisake Naholo (London Irish), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Toulon), Jordan Taufua (Leicester Tigers), Matt Proctor (Northampton), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wasps) and Liam Squire (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) all confirmed departures.
Since his test debut against Scotland in 2008, Read has gone on to rack up 118 test caps, has claimed two World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, and won World Player of the Year in 2013.
Currently on extended leave with the Crusaders, Read is not expected to make his return to Super Rugby until the side's round five clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin next week.
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Spot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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