The All Blacks captain has always been tipped to retire after the Rugby World Cup, but was unwilling to announce his plans until the tournament was over.
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All Blacks captain Richie McCaw following their Rugby World Cup win against Australia.
After the nationwide celebrations of their bows out arguably the sports greatest ever player with a record 148 Tests to his name in a career that’s spanned 14 years from his debut in 2001.
He is the only captain to have led a side to two World Cup victories – with back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2015 – and he has been voted the IRB’s player of the year a record three times, in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
There were 131 wins in that period during which McCaw played in four Rugby World Cups.
A lot of people around the world I’m sure will be hurting from hearing the loss of a great man and a great All Black, ” McCaw said.
After the game, McCaw didn’t hint at retirement, but he has today confirmed what has been widely speculated for a few time by exiting the game he entered in 1999.
‘It’s time to hang up the boots!
Until then, McCaw was more interested in working on his parents’ farm on New Zealand’s South Island and flying gliders with his grandfather, a pilot during World War II.
“(It’s the) End of something that’s been a big part of my life.
Although he may have been mostly coy on his future intentions during the World Cup, while giving hope to an extended worldwide stay at one point after the final, press announcements like this usually only mean one thing.
“With the World Cup, there is no in betweens coming home, either extremely happy or disappointed”.
“Had it go the way of us getting beaten, I wanted to make sure I did it right as the all black captain”.
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“When I became an All Black he was in the team”.
