The No 8 – World Rugby’s player of the year in 2013 – played 128 tests (52 as captain) and won two Rugby World Cup medals with the All Blacks and four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders.
New Zealand Rugby issued a social media tribute, saying: “Thank you, Reado. We wish you all the best in your retirement from professional rugby.’’
World Rugby also congratulated Read on “a stellar career’’.
Papakura-born Read made his first-class debut for Canterbury in 2006, and played for the Crusaders from 2007 to 2019, including several seasons as captain.
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Kieran Read made a big impact at Counties Manukau, on and off the field, in 2020.