More than a decade has passed since Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup at Twickenham and walked away from rugby. The man who led New Zealand to back-to-back Rugby World Cups now spends his days as a helicopter pilot, but the All Blacks are still measured against his standards.
A record-breaking 148 Tests, 110 of them as captain, and an 88.5 per cent win rate: this is the story of the openside flanker many call the greatest rugby player of all time. Find more stars of the oval ball in our rugby union collection.
Richie McCaw Fact File
| Full name | Richard Hugh McCaw |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 December 1980 (age 45) |
| Place of birth | Oamaru, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Position | Openside flanker |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Status | Retired (2015); commercial helicopter pilot |
| Shirt number | 7 |
| Tests | 148 for New Zealand (110 as captain) |
Career History
| Years | Team | Apps | Tries / titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2009 | Canterbury | 34 | – |
| 2001–2015 | Crusaders | – | 4 Super Rugby titles |
| 2001–2015 | New Zealand (All Blacks) | 148 | 27 tries; 2 Rugby World Cups |
Apps are first-class appearances. All Blacks figures are Test matches only: 131 wins, 15 defeats and 2 draws.
A Farm Boy From Kurow
McCaw grew up in Kurow, in North Otago, and was head boy at Otago Boys' High School. He then studied at Lincoln University near Christchurch while breaking into the Canterbury side in 2000.
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Man of the Match on Debut
His Test debut came against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on 17 November 2001. Aged just 20, he was named man of the match as New Zealand won 40-29.
With the Crusaders he won Super Rugby titles in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008. He first captained the All Blacks in 2004 and became permanent captain in 2006.
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2011: Winning on a Broken Foot
McCaw was World Rugby Player of the Year in 2006, 2009 and 2010, and became the first All Black to play 100 Tests. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup on home soil, he captained New Zealand to an 8-7 final win over France on 23 October while playing with a broken bone in his foot, ending a 24-year wait for the trophy.
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Twickenham 2015: Back-to-Back
Four years later he did it again. On 31 October 2015 the All Blacks beat Australia 34-17 at Twickenham, making McCaw the only captain to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice in a row. It was his 148th and final Test.
Honours
International
- Rugby World Cup winner: 2011, 2015 (captain)
- Seven Tri-Nations / Rugby Championship titles
Club
- Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008
Individual
- World Rugby Player of the Year: 2006, 2009, 2010
- World Rugby Player of the Decade (2011–2020)
- World Rugby Hall of Fame (2019)
- Order of New Zealand (2016)
Away From the Game
McCaw is a qualified commercial helicopter pilot and has been involved with Christchurch Helicopters. He married Olympic hockey player Gemma Flynn in 2017.
FAQs
How old is Richie McCaw?
Richie McCaw was born on 31 December 1980, so he is 45.
Where was Richie McCaw born?
He was born in Oamaru and grew up in Kurow, North Otago, New Zealand.
How tall is Richie McCaw?
He is 1.87 m, or about 6 ft 2 in.
How many Tests did Richie McCaw play?
He played 148 Tests for the All Blacks, 110 of them as captain, winning 131.
What teams did Richie McCaw play for?
Canterbury, the Crusaders in Super Rugby and New Zealand.
How many World Cups did Richie McCaw win?
Two, in 2011 and 2015. He is the only captain to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups.
Shop the Richie McCaw Collection
Celebrate the All Blacks' greatest captain with our Richie McCaw designs.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Jonny Wilkinson Career Story and Sachin Tendulkar Career Story.
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