Most Test Caps by a Player (Richie McCaw)

Lore & Background

McCaw was the first All Black to reach 100 caps, 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 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

The rain lashed down at Eden Park, turning the pitch into a slick battleground of mud and exhaustion. It was the final minutes of the 2015 World Cup Final against Australia. Richie McCaw's lungs burned, his legs heavy with the weight of eighty minutes of relentless pressure, yet he remained upright, eyes locked on the breakdown. The ball spun loose in the scrum-half's hands, and instinct took over. He didn't sprint; he glided, a shadow in black, arriving at the ruck before the opposition could form a barrier. With a grunt that echoed through the stadium, he surged forward, absorbing the tackle of two Australian defenders, driving them back inches at a time until the whistle blew. He fell to his knees, the Webb Ellis Cup raised high above his head, not as a conqueror, but as a servant who had finally completed his duty.

Reader's Guide

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 eight minutes of Super 12 rugby. His debut for New Zealand was against Ireland, where he was awarded 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 however one of the two only captains to have won two Rugby World Cups, the other one being Siya Kolisi.

Did You Know?

• McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021.
• He was the first All Black to reach 100 caps and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests.
• McCaw holds the international record for most game wins as a player at 131.
• He is one of only two captains to have won two Rugby World Cups, the other being Siya Kolisi.