Richie McCaw, who captained New Zealand to two Rugby World Cup triumphs and was one of the best players ever to grace the game, has brought an end to his 14-year global career by announcing his retirement.
Advertisement
The 34-year-old flanker won three World Rugby Player of the Year awards and led the All Blacks to successive World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015.
McCaw said lining up beside him on his worldwide debut in Ireland was one of the highlights of his 148-Test career as he had worshipped the player since the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.
McCaw said the decision was not an easy to make as he loved playing rugby and the timing of the announcement was hard following the death of All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu.
“I’m going to be hanging up my boots”, McCaw repeated, “it’s the end of my rugby days”.
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.
“I just feel privileged having got to play alongside the guy and know him”. “Here’s to new adventures”, he added.
McCaw who captained the Kiwi side in 109 Tests, now looks forward to pursuing a helicopter pilot’s career with the Christchurch helicopter company.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he considered McCaw the greatest All Black ever.
“So I wanted to make sure that that was right and if it went the other way I wanted to enjoy being still an All Black and make it about the team and not about the individuals, and that’s the way it happened”.
Sports minister Fikile Mbalula lauded Lomu for the role he played in driving the game into the professional era after his superb performance at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in SA.
“There are a lot of people around the world that will be hurting at the loss of a great man and a great All Black”.
“I’ve said to him both publicly and personally that he’s the greatest ever All Black, and more importantly, the greatest ever captain”.
“I guess the question will be: what am I going to do from now?” We got just as many comments for our play on the field as for what we did off the field in the UK.
Advertisement
He said: “I’m delighted with the tremendous support were getting from government to celebrate Jonah’s life”.
