From a shy young man out of south Auckland to the world's best rugby player.
It's been one a heck of a ride over nearly a decade for All Blacks and Crusaders No. 8 Kieran Read, who will make his 100th appearance for his beloved Crusaders against the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Read has his name alongside almost all there is in rugby, from Ranfurly Shield victories, to ITM Cup titles, and captain of the world champion All Blacks.
However the 2013 IRB Player of the Year says that this latest milestone is significantly special, with Read admitting that reaching 100 caps for the Crusaders was never really in his long term plans.
"I guess red and black would have been Papakura Rugby Club is probably the only team I would have ever imagined," Read told ONE Sport today.
"It doesn't feel like that long ago that we packed up his little red car and moved down to Christchurch and now were at a 100 games," explained wife Bridgett.
And since making his debut in 2007 he's very much become part of Canterbury rugby and the community, with the devastating earthquakes only strengthening their links with the region.
"I certainly consider myself a Christchurch man through and through never in my mind was I going to leave," said Read.
"I had an eight week old, obviously no power, no water," Bridgett explained. "It wasn't an ideal place for us to be but once the house was given the all clear I was happy to come back."
Read's currently doing a little rebuilding of his own - adding a room in his new house to hold his many accolades and mementos.
"If any boyfriends come round I can just bring them in there, get them around the shoulder and say, 'this is what I did back in my day' or something," he laughed.
All jokes aside it's his serious attitude to the game that's won hearts in the heartland.
"We can probably call ourselves Cantabrians now actually, I think," Bridgett said.
Not probably, definitely.
Source: ONE News
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