3:20pm, 28 November 2018

All Blacks captain Kieran Read could earn NZ$2 million a season should he join French club Racing 92 following the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

French rugby paper Midi Olympique have reported that the club have offered Read €1.2 million a year to join the club.

33-year-old Read has signalled next year would be his last with the All Blacks, with an overseas club likely his next destination.

The French report also said Read is mulling two more offers from teams in the United Kingdom.

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Racing 92 currently host former All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Dominic Bird, and in 2015 made Dan Carter rugby’s richest man with a £1.3 million (NZ$2.4 million) per year deal. Carter now plies his trade in Japan.

Read missed a significant amount of playing time in 2018 after undergoing major back surgery in late 2017. He returned to help the Crusaders win their second consecutive Super Rugby title and made his first All Blacks appearance of the year in August.

The number eight has come under fire for a recent drop in form, but both All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen and Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson have jumped to his defence.

“It can swing pretty quickly from a player of his mana, his captaincy and how special of a New Zealander he’s been, and for how long he’s played for at a high level,” Robertson told NZME.

“For him to get that kick back, it’s pretty tough to swallow. But I know it’s the game we’re in and it will wash off and he will come back stronger for it.”

Read himself defended his form in an interview with NZME.

Of the recent northern tour and losing effort against Ireland in particular, Read said “it was fairly strong and I think I have operated the best I have all year on this tour. It was one of those games where it was hard to get going because it ended up being a bit if a stop-start affair.”

“I am feeling like I am putting some form out on the field now so that is nice.”

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