WELLINGTON (Reuters) – All Blacks captain Kieran Read has signed as much as play with Japanese membership Toyota Verblitz after this year’s World Cup, bringing a quit to 13 seasons as a professional in New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby said on Wednesday.
The 33-yr-antique wide variety eight had already announced he might be bringing down the curtain on his lengthy take a look at profession after he leads New Zealand’s quest for a 3rd straight World Cup identify in Japan later this 12 months.
“My own family and I are looking ahead to a distant places experience and Japan provides a tremendous possibility to immerse ourselves in the Japanese way of life as a part of the Toyota membership,” Read stated in an information launch.
“I feel the time is right to make this announcement on my playing future so that I can cognizance my efforts on the season ahead.”
Read, who has performed 118 times for the All Blacks, may also be hoping to help the Canterbury Crusaders to a third successive Super Rugby identity before the stop of his final season in his home you. S. A.
(Writing by way of Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, Editing with the aid of Amlan Chakraborty)