Read it and weep: The making of a man and one of the world’s best players

Those looking for clues as to how Kieran Read went from being a promising but skinny kid to one of the best rugby players in the world should start at his modest secondary school at Papakura, a working class suburb south of Auckland.

It was here at Rosehill College that Read attracted attention with his skill at both rugby and cricket. He was a very good left-handed batsman, considered good enough to be a future New Zealand representative, and it was this overall sporting talent that won him a scholarship to the prestigious St Kentigern College in Auckland, a fee-paying school constantly on the look-out for players to bolster what is always a very good first 15.

He was 14 at the time and lasted only a year before returning to his mates at Rosehill.