Richie McCaw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Richie McCaw

McCaw in 2016
Birth name	Richard Hugh McCaw
Date of birth	(1980-12-31) 31 December 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Oamaru, New Zealand
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	107 kg (236 lb; 16 st 12 lb)
School	Otago Boys' High School
University	Lincoln University
Spouse	Gemma Flynn ​ (m. 2017)​
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2000–2009 Canterbury 34 (50) 2001–2015 Crusaders 145 (135) Correct as of 1 April 2023 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2000–2001 New Zealand U21 5 (15) 2001–2015 New Zealand 148 (135) Correct as of 1 April 2023

Richard Hugh McCaw (born 31 December 1980) is a famous retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He is known as one of the greatest rugby players of all time.

Richie McCaw was the captain of the New Zealand national team, called the All Blacks. He led them in 110 of his 148 test matches. He helped the All Blacks win two Rugby World Cups. He also won the World Rugby Player of the Year award three times, which is a record. From 2015 to 2020, he was the player with the most international test caps ever. In 2021, he was named the World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020).

McCaw was the first All Black to play 100 test matches. He was also the first rugby player to win 100 test matches. He played in 148 test matches in total. This made him the most-capped player in rugby history for a while. He also shares the record for most appearances at the Rugby World Cup.

Richie McCaw mostly played as an openside flanker. He played for the New Zealand, Crusaders, and Canterbury teams. Sometimes he also played as a blindside flanker or number 8. During his career, his Canterbury team won the NPC (a New Zealand competition) five times. His Crusaders team won four Super Rugby titles. Besides the two World Cups, the All Blacks won seven Tri-Nations titles. They also completed three successful Grand Slam tours and won the Bledisloe Cup eight times.

He started playing for the Crusaders in 2001. Soon after, he was chosen for the All Blacks' tour, even though he had only played a little Super Rugby. His first game for New Zealand was against Ireland. He was named the best player of that match. McCaw became a regular player for New Zealand. He only missed a few games because of concussions. In 2004, he became the captain of the All Blacks. He led them in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Even though they lost in the quarter-finals, he remained captain. He then led the team to win the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015. He is the only captain to have won two Rugby World Cups.

McCaw holds the international record for most game wins as a player, with 131 wins. He also holds the record for most games as a captain, leading his team in 110 matches.

Richie McCaw's Early Life and School Years

Otago Boys' High School in Dunedin. Richie McCaw went to school here from 1994 to 1998.

Richie McCaw was born on December 31, 1980, in Oamaru, New Zealand. He grew up on his parents' farm with his sister, Joanna. His family has a history in New Zealand, with his great-great-grandfather moving there from Scotland in 1893.

When he was nine, McCaw started flying gliders with his grandfather, Jim McCaw. His grandfather was a pilot in World War II. Richie played rugby for his local club when he was young. But he started taking the game seriously in 1994. This was when he went to boarding school at Otago Boys' High School in Dunedin.

In his last year at Otago Boys' High, McCaw was the head boy. He played for the school's top rugby team. Even though he was a good player, he didn't make the national schoolboy team in 1998. After high school, McCaw went to Lincoln University in Christchurch. He studied agricultural science and continued to play rugby. He almost finished his degree before focusing fully on his rugby career. In 2012, he received an honorary doctorate for his amazing sports achievements.

In 1999, McCaw was chosen for the New Zealand under-19 team. They won the world championship in Wales. This made him believe he could achieve his dream of playing for the All Blacks. The next year, he joined the New Zealand under-21 team. He also played his first game for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship (NPC). On March 31, 2001, he made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders. He only played a few minutes that year for the Crusaders. However, he played a full season for Canterbury, who won the NPC. He also captained the New Zealand Under 21s.

Richie McCaw's Rugby Career

Starting His International Journey

In 2001, Richie McCaw was only 20 years old. He had played just seventeen matches for Canterbury. But John Mitchell, the new All Black coach, chose him for the end-of-year tour. This tour included games in Ireland, Scotland, and Argentina. Some people thought it was too soon for him to be an All Black.

McCaw's first international test match was against Ireland on November 17, 2001. It was played at Lansdowne Road. In his very first play, he made a mistake, but the All Blacks came back to win 40–29. McCaw was named the best player of the match. He even got a standing ovation! A key moment was when McCaw stole the ball from Ireland, leading to a try for Jonah Lomu. McCaw said it was a "very special" experience.

McCaw played in all three test matches on that tour. The All Blacks won against Scotland and Argentina. At the end of the season, McCaw won two awards. He was named the New Zealand Rugby Football Union Under-21 Player of the Year. He also won the NPC Division One Player of the Year.

Playing for the All Blacks (2002–2003)

Before the 2003 World Cup, McCaw was a regular player. He played for Canterbury, the Crusaders, and the All Blacks. In 2002, the Crusaders won the Super Rugby final. In 2003, they reached the final again but lost.

In 2002, McCaw played for the All Blacks against Ireland and in the Tri Nations against Australia and South Africa. New Zealand won five of the six test matches he played. During a match against South Africa, a fan ran onto the field and attacked the referee. McCaw and another player, A.J. Venter, helped get the attacker off the referee. McCaw was rested from the end-of-year tour in 2002.

In 2002, McCaw was voted Newcomer of the Year by international rugby players. After a great season with the Crusaders in 2003, McCaw was again the first-choice openside flanker for the All Blacks. The 2003 All Blacks won the Tri Nations title. They also won back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 1997.

McCaw played in every game at the 2003 World Cup. New Zealand won all their pool games and beat South Africa in the quarter-finals. But they lost to Australia in the semi-finals, which was a big surprise. At the end of the season, McCaw won the New Zealand Rugby Union Player of the Year award.

Challenges and Triumphs (2004–2005)

In 2004, the Crusaders finished second in the Super 12 season. After the World Cup, Graham Henry became the new All Black coach. McCaw was chosen as vice-captain. He suffered a concussion in the first test against England. He had to miss some games to recover from headaches.

McCaw returned to captain Canterbury to the finals later that year. In November 2004, he rejoined the All Blacks for their tour to Europe. He became captain for the first time at age 23 against Wales. The regular captain, Tana Umaga, was resting.

In April 2005, while captaining the Crusaders, McCaw had another concussion. This made him think about whether he should keep playing rugby. But he decided to continue because he loved the game. A month later, McCaw returned to lead the Crusaders to semi-final and final victories.

McCaw played for the All Blacks against Fiji before the British and Irish Lions arrived. He played in the first two tests against the Lions, where the All Blacks won the series 3–0. McCaw was part of the successful Tri Nations campaign and a Grand Slam tour. Despite his injuries, he was a finalist for the 2005 IRB International Player of the Year award.

Becoming All Black Captain (2006–2007)

New captain McCaw leading a haka against France in 2006

McCaw led the Crusaders to another Super Rugby title in 2006. In May 2006, at 25 years old, McCaw was named the official captain of the All Blacks. His first games as captain were against Ireland. New Zealand won the 2006 Tri Nations and kept the Bledisloe Cup. They also had a successful tour in Europe, winning against England, France, and Wales. McCaw was captain in every match. After being nominated several times, he was finally named the 2006 IRB International Player of the Year.

In 2007, because it was a World Cup year, some All Blacks, including McCaw, were rested from early Super 14 games. McCaw returned to help the Crusaders reach the semi-finals. The All Blacks then won the Tri Nations again, keeping the Bledisloe Cup.

2007 Rugby World Cup

The 2007 World Cup was held in France, Scotland, and Wales. The All Blacks easily won all their pool games. McCaw played in three of these games. However, in the quarter-finals, the All Blacks lost to France 18–20. This was New Zealand's earliest exit from a World Cup. Many people were disappointed and criticized the team and McCaw's leadership. McCaw himself was very upset about the loss.

Strong Comeback (2008)

McCaw in London, 2008

Even after the World Cup loss, Graham Henry stayed as the All Black coach. He decided to keep McCaw as his captain. In 2008, the Crusaders, with McCaw as captain, won the Super Rugby title. McCaw injured his ankle against England and missed the start of the Tri Nations.

When McCaw returned, the All Blacks won their remaining three matches. They kept the Tri Nations title and the Bledisloe Cup. McCaw was seen as a huge inspiration after his injury. Henry said McCaw's performance in the 19–0 win in South Africa was his best ever. This was the first time South Africa had been kept scoreless at home in 105 years.

In 2008, a fourth Bledisloe match was played in Hong Kong. McCaw scored the winning try in a close 19–14 game. The All Blacks also completed a Grand Slam tour, winning against Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England. In 2008, McCaw won every test he captained. The All Blacks won 13 of 15 tests, kept their trophies, and became the world's number one team.

More Records and Awards (2009–2010)

The Crusaders had a tough start in 2009 but recovered to reach the semi-finals. McCaw injured his knee and missed the start of the international season. When he returned for the Tri Nations, South Africa beat the All Blacks in every match, winning the title. New Zealand finished second. This was the first time New Zealand hadn't won the competition in five years.

Despite the team's struggles, McCaw was named the IRB International Player of the Year for a second time. In 2010, the Crusaders again reached the semi-finals. McCaw played his 100th Super Rugby game that season. The All Blacks won against Ireland and Wales. Ireland lost by a record 66–28 after one of their players was sent off for kneeing McCaw in the head.

The All Blacks went through the Tri Nations undefeated in 2010. The final game marked McCaw's 52nd time captaining the All Blacks. This broke Sean Fitzpatrick's record as New Zealand's most-capped test captain. Australia ended a ten-match losing streak against the All Blacks in a game in Hong Kong. This was the only loss for the All Blacks that season. They went on to win another Grand Slam tour. In a match against Ireland, McCaw and teammate Mils Muliaina played their 93rd test match. This made them the most-capped All Blacks ever. At the end of 2010, McCaw was named the IRB International Player of the Year for the second year in a row. He also won the New Zealand sportsperson of the year award.

Winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup

Richie McCaw holding the William Webb Ellis Trophy after the 2011 World Cup final

In January 2011, McCaw injured his foot. He had a stress fracture and needed surgery. This meant he missed the first two months of the Super Rugby season. During the All Blacks' third World Cup pool match against France, McCaw became the first All Black to reach 100 test caps. However, he also hurt his foot again in this match. He had to skip some training and miss the final pool match against Canada.

Despite his injury, McCaw kept playing throughout the World Cup. He famously lifted the Webb Ellis trophy after a very close 8–7 victory over France in the final. This was the lowest score in a World Cup final ever. After the final, the All Black coach Graham Henry said McCaw could "hardly walk" and that they probably wouldn't have won without him. After the World Cup, X-rays showed he had another fracture in his foot, which needed another operation.

After the Rugby World Cup, McCaw was chosen for the RWC Dream Team by public vote. He also won the New Zealand sportsperson of the year award for the second year in a row.

Final Years and Second World Cup (2012–2015)

Under new coach Steve Hansen, the All Blacks had a fantastic year in 2012. They won 12 tests, drew one, and lost only one. They also won the new Rugby Championship without losing a single game. During this time, McCaw passed George Gregan for most wins as a player, with 94. He also got his 100th win against South Africa. McCaw was nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award but his teammate Dan Carter won it.

In 2013, McCaw took a break from rugby to rest his body. He wanted to be ready for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He only played in the later parts of Super Rugby and missed some international games. He returned to captain the All Blacks as they won the Rugby Championship again. During this time, McCaw equaled the record for captaining the most test matches (83). He later broke this record. After the All Blacks beat the Springboks at Ellis Park, McCaw had played and won at every major rugby test stadium.

McCaw, along with Kieran Read, led the All Blacks to a perfect season in 2013. They won all 14 of their test matches.

McCaw captained New Zealand for the 100th time on November 22, 2014, against Wales. He is the first rugby player to captain 100 test matches. On August 15, 2015, McCaw broke Brian O'Driscoll's world record. He became the most-capped rugby player with his 142nd cap against Australia. He held this record for five years.

On October 31, 2015, McCaw captained New Zealand to win the Rugby World Cup again. They beat Australia 34–17 in the final. This was his 13th World Cup game as captain, which is a world record. On November 19, 2015, Richie McCaw announced he was retiring from rugby.

Leading the Haka

McCaw leading a performance of the haka 'Ka Mate' against France

Even though McCaw was often the captain, he usually didn't lead the haka (the traditional Māori challenge). He only led the haka in 11 test matches, and only when the All Blacks performed 'Ka Mate'.

Richie McCaw's Playing Style

McCaw mainly played as an openside flanker. This player usually stays on the side of the scrum farthest from the touch-line. They are often the first to reach a breakdown (where players compete for the ball after a tackle). In 2008, McCaw explained his role:

• On defense, he helps the back line to make sure the defense works well.
• On attack, his main job is to protect the ball after his team makes a play.
• He also puts pressure on breakdowns to try and steal the ball from the other team.

Many people say McCaw is the best openside flanker ever. He won the IRB Player of the Year award a record three times. He was nominated eight times. When he won his third award, John Eales (a former Australian player) called him "an outstanding captain, a world class player and a role model for our sport." McCaw believes his ability to guess what will happen next in the game is one of his most important skills.

Other players, like Australian openside David Pocock, admire how McCaw understands the game and how referees will make calls. One of McCaw's strengths was his ability to change his game. For example, he quickly learned to play with new rules about the breakdown.

Some people thought McCaw pushed the rules too far. Former coaches from South Africa and Australia even called him a "cheat." They said referees let him get away with too much at the breakdown. McCaw admits he tests the referee early in a game to see "what you can get away with." He says only an "idiot" wouldn't adjust to the referee's decisions.

His teammates and fans in New Zealand thought that McCaw's playing style made him a target for illegal tackles. Many international players were accused of making "cheap shots" on McCaw. McCaw said that "what happens on the field stays on the field." He believed that if he got extra attention, it meant he was "doing something right."

In 2012, the coach of the Australian team, Robbie Deans, tried to use two openside flankers to counter McCaw. After a game in 2012, the South African coach, Heyneke Meyer, said McCaw was the greatest rugby player the world has ever seen. After the All Blacks won their third World Cup, coach Steve Hansen praised McCaw. He said, "Richie is the best All Black we have ever had."

Richie McCaw's International Record by Opponent

Against	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tries	Points	% Won
Argentina	10	10	0	0	1	5	100
Australia	37	29	6	2	11	55	78.38
British and Irish Lions	2	2	0	0	1	5	100
Canada	2	2	0	0	0	0	100
England	14	12	2	0	1	5	85.71
Fiji	2	2	0	0	0	0	100
France	13	12	1	0	1	5	92.31
Georgia	1	1	0	0	0	0	100
Ireland	14	14	0	0	0	0	100
Italy	3	3	0	0	4	20	100
Japan	1	1	0	0	1	5	100
Namibia	1	1	0	0	0	0	100
Romania	1	1	0	0	0	0	100
Scotland	7	7	0	0	1	5	100
Samoa	1	1	0	0	0	0	100
South Africa	26	20	6	0	6	30	76.92
Tonga	2	2	0	0	0	0	100
Wales	11	11	0	0	0	0	100
Total	148	131	15	2	27	135	88.51

Richie McCaw's Career Highlights and Awards

Richie McCaw's Life Outside Rugby

In January 2013, it was reported that Richie McCaw was dating hockey player Gemma Flynn. They announced their engagement in January 2016. They got married on January 14, 2017. They have three daughters, born in December 2018, May 2021, and April 2023. In December 2024, McCaw's family shared that they would soon move to Wānaka after living in Christchurch for 10 years.

Richie McCaw also loves flying. He was taught to fly gliders by his grandfather, Jim McCaw. His grandfather was a pilot in World War II. In 2010, Richie was made an honorary Squadron Leader in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He was promoted to honorary Wing Commander in September 2016.

In 2009, he filmed a show about gliding for the Discovery network. After the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, he auctioned a personal flying lesson to raise money for a damaged church. He also helped raise money for a young Samoan who broke his neck playing rugby. When he retired in 2015, it was announced that McCaw would work at Christchurch Helicopters. He is a director and shareholder there. He also got his commercial helicopter license. He flew rescue and reconnaissance missions after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. He also delivered milk by helicopter in rural areas as part of a deal with Fonterra.

Honours and Special Awards

In 2019, World Rugby added Richie McCaw to its Hall of Fame. This is a very high honour in rugby.

Order of New Zealand

McCaw (left), after being given the Member of the Order of New Zealand honour by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, in April 2016

In December 2011, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, offered Richie McCaw a knighthood. But McCaw turned it down. He felt it wasn't the right time because he was still playing rugby. He thought it would be better to receive such an honour after his playing career ended.

After he retired, McCaw was appointed a member of New Zealand's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in 2016. This honour is even higher than a knighthood. Only 20 living New Zealanders can be members at any one time. McCaw represented the Order in the Royal Procession at the 2023 Coronation.

See also

In Spanish: Richie McCaw para niños