The Bledisloe Cup, the Rugby championship, the World Cup – you name it; he’s done it and won it.
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However, McCaw reportedly said at the time he did not feel it was right to accept the honour while he was still playing rugby.
However Mr Key told New Zealand TV network TV3 the star had another chance to become a knight of the British Empire.
The World Cup beginning on September 18 and hosted by England will be his All Blacks farewell. Neither was it among the interviews afterwards when, despite the adulation that followed his record-breaking 142nd Test cap, McCaw conducted himself with his familiar “I’m-just-a-normal-guy” humility.
The knighthood had been on offer before and “I can’t imagine anything has changed”, Key said.
Amid the emotional scenes at Eden Park on Saturday – and, boy, did they lay it on thick – there is one moment that stood out.
The 34-year-old was part-way through a degree in agricultural science before becoming a full-time rugby player. “He has a lot of business interests and I’d think he’d pursue one of those”.
“He’s an outstanding leader and done brilliantly”.
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New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key has made his own knighthood “captain’s pick” after offering the title of “Sir” to All Blacks outgoing captain Richie McCaw. “In saying that, the Prime Minister is sure that its not something that Richie will be focused on as he and his team turn their attention to the World Cup next month”.
