All Blacks legend Kieran Read tries his hand at a different sport

After a glittering career as a professional rugby player, former All Blacks and Crusaders captain and number eight Kieran Read is set to return to action, albeit in a different sport.

The 38-year-old will participate in the T20 Black Clash in New Zealand and will captain Team Rugby in the fun T20 cricket match against Team Cricket at Bay Oval in Tauranga on Saturday, January.

Joining Read in the Team Rugby side is fellow All Blacks and Crusaders great Richie McCaw as well as West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, while former New Zealand international spinner Daniel Vettori will skipper the Team Cricket line-up which includes other former Black Caps team-mates like Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills.

It’s the sixth year that the T20 Black Clash takes place and Team Cricket have won three of the previous five matches while Team Rugby have been victorious on two occasions.

Keen to draw level

Read is excited by the prospect of Team Rugby drawing level against their cricket counterparts.

“It’s definitely a lot of fun,” he told Stuff. “I try to come with a real social mindset. But as soon as you step out and over the white lines, you do get a bit of competitiveness going. But honestly, it’s just so much fun so I try to keep it that way.

“I don’t do too much preparation. I just try to enjoy the occasion.”

It will still be a competitive occasion, however.

“I guess for us, as rugby players or ex-rugby players, there is no real expectation on us to be able to swing a bat and bowl and things, so I think the pressure is normally on the cricketers to do well in that department,” added Read.

“But I know a few of the guys will probably jump in the net. My daughter plays cricket, so she’s kind of my net bowler. I’ll try to get a bit of practice in over summer.”

When asked if he misses being involved in top-level sport, Read said: “I don’t. You know, I’m obviously very blessed and privileged to have had a great career. I can watch now and just enjoy the spectacle for what it is and don’t miss it at all.

“I think it is pretty awesome to be able to go out and play in this game (Black Clash) and have a big crowd and know people are watching you again. It is an awesome occasion – just purely for what it is, as a social occasion and a big event.”

Read is looking forward to being on the same team as Lara, who is widely regarded as one of cricket’s best ever batsmen.

“It’ll be amazing, eh?” he said. “He’s an absolute cricketing legend.

“I grew up watching him play. Just like his cover drive, his follow through with his bat is something…

“It will be awesome to have him in the changing shed, and more just to be able to share a yarn and enjoy a beer, if that’s what he’s after, and just have a good time.”

Read was crowned World Rugby Player of the Year in 2013 and made 127 Test appearances for New Zealand between 2008 and 2019. He also showed plenty of promise as a cricketer in his younger days.

“I played for Northern Districts age-group teams,” he recalls. “So regional I guess. I made New Zealand tournament teams for under-17 level for two years. But basically, after I left school, I didn’t get a chance to play much more.”

He also showed his class during the 2023 T20 Black Clash in Christchurch when he scored 73 and took three wickets.

Not in favour of facing cricketers in a rugby game

However, he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for cricketers to challenge their rugby players to a match with the oval ball.

“It would be very hard to get the cricketers in rugby boots and get them to run out and get them to play against a bunch of rugby players,” says Read.

“I think the concept works with cricket. You know, New Zealanders know the game. We’re quite passionate about it and obviously rugby is there too, so you’ve got that following.

“I just don’t think it works with rugby. It would be very difficult to kind of sell it and there is no way I’d want to go and play too much more rugby anyway. The body certainly lets you know that it’s not up for it.”

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