All Blacks captain Kieran Read has all-but confirmed he will leave New Zealand Rugby after the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan to take up an overseas contract.
The 33-year-old told NZME he'd likely depart New Zealand for a stint overseas, while retirement was also a possibility.
Read and wife Bridget have wanted to live overseas for some time, and ideally before their three kids get too far into their schooling, meaning 2020 is the perfect time to make the move.
"Yeah, I have," Read told NZME, when asked if he had thought about what he would do after next year's World Cup.
"So, for me, I think it probably won't be in New Zealand. 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. There are plenty of options out there, but I probably want to keep playing if I can.
"It is the experience for the kids that will be the main thing and it has to work for us as a family.
"I hope to have it wrapped up before the start of the season, and then you can give 100 percent, because you know what you will be doing."
Read made his All Blacks debut in 2008 against Scotland in Murrayfield and has since gone on to play a further 114 tests for his country.
He first captained the All Blacks in 2012, doing so another eight times, before he took over full-time from Richie McCaw in 2016.
Sam Whitelock would likely replace Read as All Blacks captain, but he's also off contract after the 2019 World Cup.
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