All Blacks skipper Read joins Jake White’s team in Japan
No8 has already announced he will end his long Test career after he has led New Zealand’s quest for a third consecutive World Cup title
All Blacks captain Kieran Read has signed up to play with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz after 2019’s World Cup, ending 13 seasons as a professional in New Zealand. The 33-year-old No8 had already announced he would be bringing down the curtain on his long Test career after he has led New Zealand’s quest for a third consecutive World Cup title in Japan later in 2019. Although the 118-cap enforcer had long been linked with a big-money move to Parisian club Racing 92, he said he is considering how his battle-weary body might stand up to the strain of a full season in Europe’s top leagues. “With three kids and a family, [Japan] is a lot closer to home,” Read said in Christchurch on Wednesday. “And [in consideration] for my age, and my body, in terms of the amount of footy you play there compared to Europe and the UK, they are probably the main reasons. “It offered something unique to be there and enjoy a slice of Japan life.” Far from Tokyo and Japan’s more glamorous destinations, Toyot...
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