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New Zealand No 8 Kieran Read was on Tuesday named as the International Rugby Board's (IRB) player of the year for 2013.
The 28-year-old becomes the third All Black to win the award following current international team-mates flank and captain Richie McCaw (three) and flyhalf Dan Carter (two).
Read's honour capped a hat-trick of awards for New Zealand who picked up the team of the year gong while Steve Hansen was named coach of the year.
Read edged out British and Irish Lions and Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny, young South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth, Italy captain Sergio Parisse and All Black team-mate Ben Smith for the award.
This is what Sport24 readers had to say about Kieran Read:
"Well done, deserved winner." - dono
"Nice one Reid. You deserved it in 2012." - Kevin Robarts
"Well deserved. Reid is a machine. 2014 is going to be a cracker, come on the BOKS!" - David Culverwell
"Rugby player par excellence...right choice." - Andrew Mafuma
"Well deserved indeed!!" - Adrian Snyman
"Well deserved. Congratulations Read." - Siyanda Mda
"Well done New Zealand and well deserved on all 3 fronts.Great year for New Zealand rugby,but Hansen did look ever so sour after their Eden Park win.Like to see what Hansen's face will look like if the Boks beat them in 2014." - Sean
"Called this before our first encounter with the ABs. Everything a modern 8th man should be, add in composure and an amazing ability to read the game and leadership ability similar to McCaw. Barring injury, should go down as a legend of the game one day. From a 100% Bok supporter." - Shosho
"6 IRB Player of the Year Awards between Richie McCaw,Dan Carter and now Read...The All Blacks are the yardstick in world rugby...the rest of us can only learn from them." - Sean
"Player management, the only difference between the Bokke and the Blacks." - Bloumasjien Bloubloed
"The entire team and coach at this stage are way ahead of anyone else, they are the most successful team in any professional sporting discipline and fully deserve their no 1 spot. It will be interesting to see how long it will take the other teams to catch up." - Harry Smith
"We'll done Master Read, nobody could come close to your outstanding performance. We'll done NZRU for producing another legend and keeping rugby alive." - Grant Wright
"He has had a great year . The best in his position . But it will change next year cause 2014 is the Year of the Springbok." - Tyronne Jardim
"A haka for read, All black team and management and last but not least a HAKA for all AB supporters. Here's to 2014!!!" - Sige Gorabeb
"Well deserved awards by the AB's to end a fantastic year but the Boks can also take some positives from the season and continue to move forward in 2014." - Shaun Davidson
"Best no8 in world rugby by far. Congratulations Read cant wait for next year. Guess Read will be up there again if not injured." - Carl Wild
Kieran Read was the best international rugby player of 2013. (Gallo Images)
