Kieran Read will not play for the All Blacks beyond 2019 after opting out of a contract extension with New Zealand Rugby. 

Read, who will be 34 when the World Cup takes place in Japan next year, is expected to take up a contract abroad to finish out his career.

‘I think it probably won’t be in New Zealand,’ he said. ‘We have always thought as a family that we would like to go overseas and use that experience for the kids. That is probably the main option at the moment.

‘That [retirement] is an option as well. There are plenty of options out there but I probably want to keep playing if I can. 

‘I hope to have it wrapped up before the start of the season because then you can give 100% because you know what you will be doing.’

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