Kieran Read retires from rugby as 35-year-old former All Blacks skipper’s Japanese side Verblitz season ends in semi-final defeat
- Verblitz lost 48-21 to Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan’s Top League on Saturday
- The loss marked the end of their season, when Kieran Read planned to retire
- Read captained the All Blacks and ends his career with two World Cup victories
Former New Zealand captain Kieran Read retired from rugby after his team Toyota Verblitz’s season ended following Saturday’s semi-final loss to Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan’s Top League.
Read, a World Cup winner with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015, announced his decision to retire before Saturday’s game, which Verblitz lost 48-21.
The 35-year-old retired from international rugby in 2019 after the World Cup where New Zealand finished third.
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read has finished his career, having won two World Cups
The Kiwi ended his career with Japanese Top League side Toyota Verblitz at 35-years-old
‘I’m looking forward to returning to New Zealand and spending time with my family,’ Read, who played 127 tests for New Zealand, said on social media.
The number eight was named World Rugby’s player of the year in 2013. He also won four Super Rugby Aotearoa titles with the Canterbury Crusaders.
Domestically he stormed to four Super Rugby titles with Canterbury Crusaders, before joining Verblitz in late 2019 to act as co-captain for one final campaign.
The No.8 ended a glittering international career back in 2019 after the World Cup tournament