Born in Papakura in 1985, Kieran Read has won the Rugby World Cup twice - in 2011 and then again in 2015. He is the third most-capped All Black of all time and has captained his country since 2015. He was New Zealand Player of the Year in 2010 and 2013, and World Rugby Player of the Year in 2013. With Crusaders, Read is a four-time Super Rugby winner - in 2008, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Kieran Read was assisted in the writing of his autobiography by sports broadcaster and writer Scotty Stevenson. Stevenson has covered rugby at all levels in New Zealand and abroad, from school derbies to Rugby World Cups. He has also reported on, and presented coverage of, Summer and Winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games. He is the author of six sporting biographies and is a regular columnist and contributor for a number of media outlets. He lives in Auckland and is currently a commentator and senior reporter for Spark Sport and TVNZ.