New Zealand’s World Cup-winning rugby captain Richie McCaw has announced his retirement.
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“I’m hanging up my boots having accomplished everything I could have ever dreamed about in the game”.
He became the World’s most capped player this year – surpassing Brian O’Driscoll’s record of 141 test matches – ended with 148 caps.
“The government wants to support the family and give a vehicle for New Zealanders – for which there is an enormous outpouring of support – a capacity for them to pay their respects to Jonah”.
His career had a low point when New Zealand was upset by France in the quarterfinals of the 2007 World Cup, when his tactical inflexibility was widely criticized. That last game as a rugby player was pretty satisfying. Ever since he made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders way back in 2001, South African teams have been trying to figure out how to get the better of him.
He was voted Newcomer of the Year by the global Rugby Players’ Association the following year and was named All Blacks captain for the first time in 2004, when regular skipper Tana Umaga was rested.
McCaw in 2011 declined the prosect of a knighthood, saying he wouldn’t consider it while still playing.
He was awarded rugby union’s World Player of the Year award on three occasions in his career. His 110-match captaincy is also a record.
Dan Carter tweeted that he would have “done anything to have played a test with him”, while Lomu’s first All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick described him as a “special person”.
He won 131 of the Tests he played with two draws and 15 losses, and scored 27 tries. “Richie will probably go down as the best who has ever played his game and his achievements will last forever”. “Thanks for the fantastic contribution you made to the game of rugby”.
A keen aviator, McCaw revealed plans for a post-rugby career as a commercial helicopter pilot.
New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu looks on during a coaching tour in Hong Kong on March 23, 2011.
“Today, I thought about whether it was the right thing to do this”, said McCaw.
“I’ve been hugely privileged to do what I’ve done for so long, been in a few great teams with a few great men and what happened in the World Cup, everything falling into place was hugely rewarding”, McCaw said.
“Unfortunately, the next thing I remember is turning around to see Jonah scoring the try”.
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As a Kiwi looking at the prospects for 2016, I have faith Steve Hansen and co. won’t have an extreme problem, as people are making the exodus of All Black greats out to be.
