Kieran Read: NPC swansong problematic
Former All Blacks skipper, and freshly minted Queens Birthday honouree, Kieran Read has conceded a mooted return to the provincial rugby scene later this year might end up falling into the ‘‘too-hard’’ basket.
The 34-year-old now retired All Black, who was anointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in Monday’s latest round of honours, has also sounded the call for rugby to consider a return to traditional tours as it rethinks the international landscape in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview with Stuff, Read said he was humbled by becoming rugby’s latest addition to the country’s honours list but clarified the difficulty he faced making an unplanned return to the New Zealand playing fields in the Mitre 10 Cup later this year.
Read had first indicated in an interview with Sky Sport he had interest in joining what is expected to be a parade of internationals taking part in the New Zealand provincial competition (due to kick off September 11), in the likely absence of international rugby during the back half of the year.
‘‘It’s a possibility,’’ Read told SkySport. ‘‘There needs to be a few things to happen. It’s exciting if the All Blacks are back playing in that competition. We’ll just have to wait and see if I’m there or not.’’
But Read told Stuff it was now looking unlikely he would be able to suit up in the Mitre 10 Cup ahead of what could be his final season in professional rugby with Toyota Verblitz in the Japan Top league.
He has one more year left on his contract after his debut campaign was severely disrupted by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘‘It’s been nice just training for training’s sake at the moment with nothing really on the horizon,’’ he told Stuff.
‘‘I’m contracted in Japan, and I’m hoping to get back up there at the end of the year for their season starting early next year.
‘‘Because of that contract it might make it a bit tougher to be playing here. We’ll see what happens. I feel like I’ve still got some footy in me in some aspects, so we’ll see how that goes.’’
A number of Kiwi players with deals in Japan have found it difficult getting released to play either in the revamped Super Rugby Aoteatoa competition or in the provincial championship which follows.
Some of that concerns the cost of insurance and some is around getting required releases from the clubs concerned.
Read told Stuff a last lap of the provincial track had some appeal, but might prove just too problematic.
‘‘It appeals to me on the basis of I’d love to have a game, but I’ve also got to appreciate it’s nice to just enjoy the time right here and not be worrying about [playing] too much. I’ll weigh all that up, and if things work out and I can get back to Japan, that’s my focus at the moment and what I’m contracted for.’’
The long-serving All Black —
127 tests over 11 years, including
52 as captain — and hugely successful Crusaders No 8 (four titles, 156 appearances) also weighed in on the direction of the international game as it ponders a major reset in the wake of the destabilising shutdown caused by Covid-19.
‘‘I’d like to see some kind of consistency around the season,’’ he said. ‘‘That would be better for everyone involved, and especially for the players so you’re not playing out of season which shortens your offseason, which means you’re not going to be as well recovered and ready for the next year.
‘‘I also think tours are important for the international game. The way I see it, and the way the game has gone, the money is going to dictate. And the money is probably coming out of the north.
‘‘A tour for me was more around end-of-year tours which we got to experience a little bit. They’re the best times for a player and I think fans can probably sense that as well.
‘‘When you get a competitive series it certainly makes for pretty good viewing.’’
Read was also enthused about the hybrid Super Rugby Aotearoa competition geting under way on June 13-14, possibly in front of fans if New Zealand’s move to Level 1 Covid-19 restrictions occurs as early as is being mooted.
‘‘It’s going to be a great competition, and I’m glad to be out here watching it, and not involved. The guys are itching to get back on the field, and that’s what they need to do. It’s their job,’’ said Read.
‘‘In some ways it’s kind of a little bit back to what it used to be, where it was those big battles every week. It will be great to just sit down and watch some footy on the TV.’’
Read also shared the advice he had offered to his successor as All Blacks captain, Sam Cane.
‘‘I dropped him a text and said ‘look mate, do your thing, be who you are and stay true to that’’. I think he is going to be a great leader. Don’t try and be anyone else is probably my advice to him and I think he’ll do a great job with that.’’
‘‘It’s going to be a great competition, and I’m glad to be out here watching it, and not involved. The guys are itching to get back on the field, and that’s what they need to do. It’s their job.’’
Kieran Read