Richard Hugh McCawONZ (born 31 December 1980) is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, in 110 out of his 148 test matches, and won two Rugby World Cups. He has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020.[1] McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021. McCaw is also a winner of the New Zealand sportsman of the decade award.
McCaw was the first All Black to reach 100 caps, and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests. He was the most-capped player in rugby union history with 148 caps, having overtaken Brian O'Driscoll's record in 2015 and losing the record to Alun Wyn Jones in 2020. McCaw has also equaled the record for most appearances at the Rugby World Cup, with Jason Leonard.
McCaw predominantly played in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury teams, but also played as a blindside flanker and no. 8. During McCaw's career, Canterbury won the NPC (later Mitre10 Cup) five times, and the Crusaders won four Super Rugby titles. In addition to winning two world cups, the All Blacks won seven Tri-Nations titles, completed three successful Grand Slam tours and won the Bledisloe Cup eight times.
He made his debut in 2001 for the Crusaders, and was selected for the All Blacks' 2001 end-of-year tour, despite having played only eight minutes of Super 12 rugby. His debut for New Zealand was against Ireland, where he was awarded man-of-the-match. McCaw became a regular selection for New Zealand, only missing a few games due to recurring concussions. In 2004 he was appointed captain of the All Blacks, whom he led at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. After their elimination in the quarter-finals, his captaincy came under criticism, but he was retained and eventually led the team to consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, becoming one of only 43 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions. McCaw is however the only captain to have won two Rugby World Cups.[2]
McCaw holds the international record for most game wins as a player at 131.[3] He also holds the international record for most games as a captain at 110.[4]
^Rees, Paul (29 October 2020). "Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will set world Test caps record against Scotland". The Guardian.
^Palmer, Justin. "Captain fantastic McCaw leads from the front". Reuters. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
^White, Martin. "Richie McCaw". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
^"Most international appearances in rugby union as captain". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
(14 January 2017). "RichieMcCaw's and Gemma Flynn's big day arrives". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 January 2017. "Richie and Gemma McCaw announce birth of...
Award for the second time, while flanker and newly appointed captain RichieMcCaw was named IRB Player of the Year for the first time. The 2007 season...
basketball player RichieMcCaw (born 1980), New Zealand rugby player Sean (Allen) McCaw (born 1973), American basketball player Susan McCaw (born 1962), American...
of September 2010, McCaw continues to play with Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship. Her older brother RichieMcCaw is captain of the Crusaders...
player to win the award in back-to-back years, after former teammate RichieMcCaw. He also won the overall Sportsperson of the Year Award in the Taranaki...
the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015 (equaling the record three awards of RichieMcCaw) and has won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and nine Tri-Nations...
features RichieMcCaw. Other players are featured in specific markets: Australia and Asia — Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock France — McCaw and France...
(14 January 2017). "RichieMcCaw's and Gemma Flynn's big day arrives". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 January 2017. "Richie and Gemma McCaw announce birth of...
New Zealand players won their second World Cup, having won in 2011. RichieMcCaw became the first player to captain his nation to two titles and Siya...
injured RichieMcCaw. In 2012, Read led the team for their first 10 matches while McCaw was rested. In 2013, another extended rest for McCaw saw Read...
athlete Sir Peter Snell, Mahe Drysdale, and former All Black captain RichieMcCaw came out in support of the alternative design. After the 2015 Rugby World...
held by Sam Whitelock — who has played 153 Test matches for the team. RichieMcCaw was the first All Black to play over 100 Test matches; a record he achieved...
World Cup. Prince Harry presented the Webb Ellis Cup to winning captain RichieMcCaw after the match, once the team's name had been engraved on the base of...
captain RichieMcCaw in the last minute of the 34-17 victory over Australia in the tournament final on 31 October 2015. Following RichieMcCaw's retirement...
had another child with his wife Rochelle. Umaga's announcement led to RichieMcCaw succeeding him as captain. Umaga gave the All Blacks shirt he wore in...
Football Hall of Fame RichieMcCaw (born 1980), New Zealand former rugby union player, the most capped test rugby player of all time RichieMcDonald (born 1962)...
Watkins V.C., G.B.E, D.L Wales IRB International Player of the Year: RichieMcCaw, New Zealand IRB International Team of the Year: New Zealand IRB International...
the Rugby Union Writers’ Club, where she pipped New Zealand captain, RichieMcCaw, to become the first woman to claim the prize in its 50-year history...
administered by a Secretary and Registrar (the Clerk of the Executive Council). RichieMcCaw represented the Order at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in...
favoured the All Blacks and three incorrect decisions favoured the French. RichieMcCaw and New Zealand coach Graham Henry pointed out that New Zealand had deliberately...
disruption to the community. Kurow had been trying to fund a statue of RichieMcCaw since 2016 but has struggled to raise the required money. A seven metre...
8–7, with Franks collecting his winners' medal as All Black captain RichieMcCaw lifted the trophy, with New Zealand winning the competition for the second...
Captain Preceded by Pieter-Steph du Toit South Africa captain 2018– Incumbent Preceded by RichieMcCaw Rugby World Cup winning captain 2019, 2023 Incumbent...
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