Former All Blacks captain

Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read eyes Mitre 10 Cup return

Read, who is contracted with Toyota Verblitz, is back in New Zealand after the Japanese Top League season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

With the next Japanese season not kicking off until January 2021, Read is interested in playing in the 2020  Mitre 10 Cup season, which is due to start on September 11.

Read has played 37 games for Canterbury in the domestic competition, although in his last contract with New Zealand Rugby he was aligned with Counties Manukau, where he grew up. 

Former All Blacks captain dies

Sir John died peacefully on Wednesday night after a short illness with cancer. He was 82.

Born in Stratford, Taranaki, Sir John played 22 tests for the All Blacks, including three as captain, between 1958 and 1964, and was president of the New Zealand Rugby Union from 2005 to 2007.

He also managed the New Zealand cricket team from 1997 to 1999.

Sir John attended New Plymouth Boys' High School and went on to be headmaster of Auckland Grammar School for 20 years, from 1973 to 1993 and Chancellor of the University of Auckland from 1999 to 2004.