“I’m hanging up my boots having accomplished everything I could have ever dreamed about in the game”.
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After a disappointing 2007 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Cardiff, the All Blacks have gone on to win the next two World Cup’s giving McCaw legendary status.
The team that McCaw played most the most Tests against were the Wallabies (37 for 29 wins) and Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver sent his congratulations “on a remarkable career”.
Although playing in different codes, Radlinski and Lomu’s careers took off at similar times, with a 20-year-old Lomu destroying England in the 1995 rugby union World Cup semi-final with four tries while a month before, Radlinski, then 19, tore Leeds apart with a hat-trick at Old Trafford.
The Kiwi legend turned down a knighthood following the 2011 World Cup victory on New Zealand soil, telling John Key, the Prime Minister, that the time wasn’t right. Your unwavering and passionate support for myself and the other players has always given us a huge lift, wherever we have played.
All Black coach Steve Hansen said if it was not for the kidney disease that eventually claimed his life, Lomu might be the player being talked about as the best ever, rather than McCaw.
It was when McCaw went on his first overseas tour with the All Blacks that he got a glimpse of Lomu’s stardom.
He said Lomu may have paved the way for rugby’s commercialisation but he never let fame go to his head, a trait current players tried to emulate.
Richie McCaw officially brought to an end his 15 year career in an emotional press conference at New Zealand Rugby headquarters.
McCaw’s record as a player and captain are unlikely to be equalled.
The rugby world today reacted to the news with a mixture of sadness, admiration and pride.
“He cares greatly about the whole game and everyone involved in it. As an example, he was involved heavily in the collective bargaining process on behalf of the country’s professional players to ensure their interests were looked after”.
Following his retirement McCaw, an honorary squadron leader of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, plans to pursue a career as a helicopter pilot.
The announcement came within a day of death of legendary former winger of New Zealand, Jonah Lomu.
“The night before a game I used to list the two teams and I said in a team meeting “there’s absolutely nobody I’d swap man for man”.
“But you know a few of the things I’ve got to experience so far with it are not far short”.
“He is on top of the heap, he’s made his own decision and we’ll be forever grateful for what he has done for the All Blacks”.
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“So sad to hear the news about this wonderful giant of a man”, said the former England football captain, David Beckham, “a sporting hero and one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet”.
