All Blacks captain Kieran Read was locked in school waiting for his children during Christchurch terror attacks
All Blacks rugby union captain Kieran Read has revealed how he was locked in a school "waiting for the girls" as the Christchurch mosque massacres were being carried out.
The 33-year-old posted an image on his Instagram account of an empty school hall with the message: "Sending my thoughts to all victims today," accompanied by an emoji of hands in prayer.
Read added: "Locked in the school hall waiting for the girls."
Read, 33, has three children, and two of them - girls Elle and Eden - attend primary school in a suburb of Christchurch.
The school was one of dozens on lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the mass shootings at two mosques in the city.
At least 49 people died, with another 48 injured, during the assaults.
It is understood Read's children were allowed home after a period of time.
Meanwhile, his All Black team-mate, Sonny Bill Williams - one of the nation's highest profile Muslims - has paid an tearful tribute to the victims of the atrocities.
Williams, 33, posted a video on social media where he visibly struggled to contain his emotions.
Williams, who converted to Islam ten years ago, said in his post: "My heart is hurting about the news coming out of Christchurch. Sending love & prayers to the effected families.
"Can’t believe this has happened in NZ."
In the video message, apparently recorded as he sat in a vehicle, he sent his prayers to the victims of the massacres, saying: "Just sending my duas (prayers) and Mashallah (God willing) - everyone that's been killed today in Christchurch... your families... just sending my duas to your loved ones and Mashallah you guys are all in paradise."