Read named Player of the Year as All Blacks sweep board

New Zealand’s talismanic number 8 Kieran Read was yesterday named the IRB Player of the Year, the third Kiwi to win the prestigious award.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal year in the heart of the All Blacks’ pack and played a key role in their unbeaten run in 2013.

The Crusaders forward has played 61 Tests for his country, the majority of them in the back row alongside Richie McCaw, and is now the most prolific try-scoring number 8 in world Rugby.