Most Test Caps by a Player (Richie McCaw)
The most capped test rugby player of his era and a two-time World Cup-winning captain.
Richard Hugh McCaw (born 31 December 1980) is a New Zealand retired professional rugby union player. He captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, in 110 out of his 148 test matches, and won two Rugby World Cups. He has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020. McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021. McCaw is also a winner of the New Zealand sportsman of the decade award.
Quick Facts
- Player
- Richie McCaw
- Position
- Openside Flanker; Blindside Flanker
- Team
- New Zealand All Blacks
- Major honours
- 2 Rugby World Cups (2011, 2015)
Lore & Background
McCaw was 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.
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.
Did You Know?
- 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.
- McCaw is one of the two only captains to have won two Rugby World Cups, the other one being Siya Kolisi.
More in Honours & Records
Elsewhere in New Zealand All Blacks
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