Kieran Read
Encyclopedia
Kieran Read is a rugby union
player for the Crusaders in the Super 14
competition. He plays as a blind-side flanker or No.8, but has the ability and height to play in the lock position. In 2009 he supplanted Rodney So'oialo
as the first choice number 8 for the All Blacks.
. Attending Opaheke Primary as a child (where his mother teaches) and Rosehill College
as a teenager (with a short interlude for one year in 2000 at one of New Zealand's top private schools, Saint Kentigern College). Moving back to Rosehill in 2001, Read immediately excelled in all aspects of school life, especially the sports field. At Rosehill, he performed with distinction, gaining top marks all the way through to the end of seventh form. That year he achieved Head Boy status at the 2000-student school, along with Sportsman of the Year, and Sports all-rounder of the year. He is married to Bridget Read (née Funnell).
work exceptionally well together around the field, and he has become notorious for his copy-book tackles made all game long, his superb speed and running support play around the field, and his outstanding ability in turning the ball over in ruck situations.
on 8th November 2008.
In 2010 Read was named New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player for the Crusaders in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition. He plays as a blind-side flanker or No.8, but has the ability and height to play in the lock position. In 2009 he supplanted Rodney So'oialo
Rodney So'oialo
Rodney So'oialo is a New Zealand rugby union player currently playing in Japan for the Honda Heat. Previously, he had been a stalwart for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition, making 101 appearances for the franchise. He also made 62 test appearances for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2009...
as the first choice number 8 for the All Blacks.
Biography
Read was brought up, and played his childhood rugby in a small town known as Drury, located in the Counties Manukau region just south of AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Attending Opaheke Primary as a child (where his mother teaches) and Rosehill College
Rosehill College
Rosehill College is a co-educational state school located in the Auckland suburb of Rosehill in Papakura, New Zealand. The college was established on February 3, 1970, and is now the largest secondary school in the Papakura District....
as a teenager (with a short interlude for one year in 2000 at one of New Zealand's top private schools, Saint Kentigern College). Moving back to Rosehill in 2001, Read immediately excelled in all aspects of school life, especially the sports field. At Rosehill, he performed with distinction, gaining top marks all the way through to the end of seventh form. That year he achieved Head Boy status at the 2000-student school, along with Sportsman of the Year, and Sports all-rounder of the year. He is married to Bridget Read (née Funnell).
Provincial
Many dubbed him as an up-and-coming Black Cap, as his ability as a batsman was just as obviously exceptional as his skills as a rugby player. But Read focussed his efforts on rugby, and only one year out of high school, he was snatched by the Canterbury R.F.U, and began his professional career in their development squad. Rising quickly through the ranks, Read played his first N.P.C game in 2006, his second year out of college.Super 15
He proceeded to play for the Crusaders in the Super 14 in 2007, and has secured his position as the starting blind-side in the team in 2008. In these few years, Read has matured as a player leaps and bounds, and was the star number 6 of the 2008 Super 14 season. He and Richie McCawRichie McCaw
Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
work exceptionally well together around the field, and he has become notorious for his copy-book tackles made all game long, his superb speed and running support play around the field, and his outstanding ability in turning the ball over in ruck situations.
All Blacks
Read was first selected for the All Blacks on the end of season tour in 2008, and became a regular first choice selection in 2009. He made his debut against ScotlandScotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
on 8th November 2008.
In 2010 Read was named New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year.