Richie McCaw

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Lore & Background

McCaw was the second All Black to reach 100 caps, after Sean Fitzpatrick, and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests. He was the most-capped player in rugby union history with 148 caps, having overtaken Brian O'Driscoll's record in 2015 and losing the record to Alun Wyn Jones in 2020. McCaw has also equaled the record for most appearances at the Rugby World Cup, with Jason Leonard. McCaw predominantly played in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury teams, but also played as a blindside flanker and no. 8. During McCaw's career, Canterbury won the NPC (later Mitre10 Cup) five times, and the Crusaders won four Super Rugby titles. In addition to winning two world cups, the All Blacks won seven Tri-Nations titles, completed three successful Grand Slam tours and won the Bledisloe Cup eight times. He made his debut in 2001 for the Crusaders, and was selected for the All Blacks' 2001 end-of-year tour, despite having played only limited Super 12 rugby prior. His debut for New Zealand was against Ireland, where he was not named man-of-the-match. McCaw became a regular selection for New Zealand, only missing a few games due to recurring concussions. In 2004 he was appointed captain of the All Blacks, whom he led at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. After their elimination in the quarter-finals, his captaincy came under criticism, but he was retained and eventually led the team to consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, becoming one of only 43 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions. McCaw is the only captain to have won two Rugby World Cups. McCaw holds the international record for most game wins as a player at 131. He also holds the international record for most games as a captain at 110.

In Their Own Story

On November 17, 2001, at Lansdowne Road, the 20-year-old McCaw made his international debut against Ireland. Despite trailing 16–7 at half-time and making a knock-on on his first touch, he became a turning point in the second half by stealing the ball to set up a try for Jonah Lomu. The All Blacks recovered to win 40–29, and McCaw was named man-of-the-match, receiving a standing ovation that he later recalled as "very special." His career faced significant physical challenges; in 2004, recurring concussions forced him to withdraw from the Tri-Nations after suffering dizziness during matches against England and Argentina. He returned in November 2004 to captain the All Blacks for the first time at age 23 against Wales. The pressure peaked after the 2007 World Cup quarter-final elimination, where his captaincy faced criticism. Yet, he retained the role, leading the team through consecutive victories in 2011 and 2015, cementing his legacy as one of the most resilient leaders in the sport's history.

Reader's Guide

McCaw's debut international test was against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on 17 November 2001. His first touch of the game resulted in a knock-on when he was hit in a tackle and New Zealand were trailing the Irish 16–7 at half-time. In the second half the All Blacks recovered to win 40–29 and McCaw was named man of the match, receiving a standing ovation at the post-match function. A turning point came in the second half when McCaw was able to steal the ball from Ireland, which led to a try to left wing Jonah Lomu. After the match McCaw recalled the experience: 'it was a hell of a stadium to play at, a real rugby stadium, a big crowd – something I'll always remember, very special.' McCaw played all three tests on the tour, with the All Blacks beating Scotland 37–6 and winning 24–20 against Argentina. At the end of season rugby awards, McCaw was selected as both the New Zealand Rugby Football Union Under-21 and Air New Zealand NPC Division One Player of the Year.

Did You Know?

• McCaw was the second All Black to reach 100 caps, after Sean Fitzpatrick.
• He is the only captain in history to win two Rugby World Cups.
• In his debut test against Ireland, McCaw was not named man-of-the-match, and he had played more than eight minutes of Super 12 rugby prior to his All Blacks debut.

Captaincy and World Cup Triumphs

Richard Hugh McCaw was appointed captain of the All Blacks in 2004. After leading the team to a quarter-final exit at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, his leadership came under fire, but he was retained. He went on to lead New Zealand to consecutive World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015, becoming one of only two captains ever to win two World Cups, the other being Siya Kolisi. Out of his 148 test matches, he captained the side in 110, setting an international record for most games as a captain. During this era, the All Blacks secured seven Tri-Nations titles, eight Bledisloe Cup wins, and three successful Grand Slam tours. He is also one of only 43 players to win the Rugby World Cup multiple times.

Record-Breaking Longevity and Accolades

McCaw was the first All Black to reach 100 caps and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests. With 148 caps, he held the record as the most-capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 until October 2020, when Alun Wyn Jones surpassed him. He holds the international record for most game wins (131). His individual excellence was recognized with three World Rugby Player of the Year awards, a joint record at the time. In 2021, he was awarded World Rugby Player of the Decade (2011–2020) and also won the New Zealand Sportsman of the Decade award. Additionally, he equaled Jason Leonard's record for most appearances at the Rugby World Cup.

Domestic Dominance and Positional Versatility

McCaw played primarily as an openside flanker but was versatile enough to play blindside flanker or number eight. He made his Super Rugby debut in 2001 with the Crusaders after playing only eight minutes of Super 12 rugby that season. Despite this limited experience, he was selected for the All Blacks' end-of-year tour. With the Crusaders, he won four Super Rugby titles, including a final victory over the Brumbies in 2002. At the provincial level with Canterbury, he contributed to five NPC (later Mitre10 Cup) victories. His rapid rise from a local club player in Kurow to a national star was highlighted by his man-of-the-match performance on debut against Ireland.

Early Life and Educational Background

Born on New Year's Eve 1980 in Oamaru, McCaw grew up on a farm with his sister Joanna. His great-great-grandfather immigrated from the Scottish Borders in 1893, settling in the Hakataramea Valley. He started flying gliders at age nine with his grandfather, Jim McCaw, a WWII pilot who shot down 20 V1 missiles. Attending Otago Boys' High School from 1994, he became head boy and played in the 1st XV. In 1998, he featured in the national secondary schools final but missed selection for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Team. He left university after completing all but two papers of his degree to pursue rugby full-time, later receiving an honorary doctorate in April 2012.