Richie McCaw

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Richie McCaw

Full name	Richard Hugh McCaw
Date of birth	1980-12-31
Place of birth	Oamaru, New Zealand
Height	1.89 m
Weight	105 kg
Rugby union career
Position	Openside flanker
Provincial/State sides		Caps	(points)
1999-present	Canterbury	29	(45)
correct as of 7 August, 2006.
Super Rugby
2001-present	Crusaders	48	(75)
Current local club:	Christchurch
correct as of 7 August, 2006.
National team(s)
2001-present	New Zealand	46	(45)
correct as of 7 August, 2006.
Other Information
Occupation	Professional rugby union footballer
School attended	Otago Boys' High School

Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw (born December 31, 1980 in Oamaru) is one of the world's top rugby players. He is the current captain of the All Blacks, playing as openside flanker. McCaw plays for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup (formerly the National Provincial Championship, or NPC) and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

1 Career
- 1.1 Early life
- 1.2 2000s
2 Notes
3 External links

[edit] Career

[edit] Early life

McCaw was born and raised in Otago. His grandfather, Jim, flew for the Allies over England during Second World War. Richie started his rugby career as a seven year old and having moved 150km south to Dunedin in 1994 for boarding life at Otago Boys' High School, he was selected for the 1st XV. He made an impression as he was selected for both Under 19 and Under 21 National sides.

It was in the secondary school rugby final in 1998 against Rotorua Boys High School where McCaw first made his name. He scored the only points for his team in a 5-5 draw. His playing talent earned him a scholarship to the Lincoln University rugby programme in Christchurch. He accepted the offer and made the move to Christchurch to study agriculture at Lincoln University. This allowed him to be selected for both the Canterbury NPC side, and then the Crusaders Super 12 team. At the age of 20, he was selected for the All Blacks tour, making his debut against the Irish where he proved himself with a man of the match performance.

[edit] 2000s

In 2004 McCaw was appointed captain of the Canterbury NPC team. Although a head injury plagued his season, he was fit in time to guide his team through to NPC glory. He was appointed the All Black's 60th Test captain against Wales in late 2004. In 2005, he was given the captaincy duties by coach Robbie Deans for the Super 12. Head injuries again kept him from playing part of the season, however he returned to lift the Super 12 trophy with victory over the NSW Waratahs in the season final.

On the 13th of May 2006, the day after McCaw's Crusaders won the right to host an inaugural Super 14 semifinal with a 33-3 win over the Brumbies, McCaw was officially announced by Graham Henry as All Black captain^[1]. McCaw was appointed to replace Tana Umaga who had officially stepped down from the role and announced his retirement from international rugby at the start of the 2006 season. It was long expected by the media and the public that McCaw would take the role following Umaga's retirement, having filled the vice-captain role under Umaga. McCaw's form was recognized by the International Rugby Board in 2005, as he made the five-man shortlist for the organization's World Player of the Year award, an honour won by teammate Daniel Carter^[2]. Richie is widely regarded as the world's best openside flanker.

On November 21st 2006, in a clean sweep for New Zealand McCaw won the International Rugby Players' Association (IRPA) 2006 player of the year award^[3]. New Zealand won the team award and McCaw's teammate Jason Eaton won the newcomer of the year award. He has also won the 2006 IRB World Player of the year award as well as the top New Zealand sportsperson at the People's Choice Sports Award. [1]

[edit] Notes

^ Gilhooly, Daniel (2006-05-13). McCaw named All Blacks captain. NZPA. Retrieved on 29 May 2006.
^ Daniel Carter Named IRB Player of the Year. iRB (2005-11-28). Retrieved on 29 May 2006.
^ McCaw leads NZ award clean sweep. BBC (2006-11-22). Retrieved on 22 Nov 2006.

[edit] External links

Preceded by Daniel Carter	IRB International Player of the Year 2006	Succeeded by Current Holder

v·d·e

New Zealand squad - 2003 Rugby World Cup

	Forwards:	Braid • Collins • Flynn • Hammett • Hewett • Hoeft • Holah • Jack • McCaw • Mealamu • Meeuws • Somerville • So'oialo • Thorn • Thorne (c) • Williams
	Backs:	Blair • Carter • Devine • Howlett • Kelleher • MacDonald • Marshall • Mauger • Muliaina • Nonu • Ralph • Rokocoko • Spencer • Umaga
	Coach:	Mitchell

v·d·e

New Zealand squad - 2006 Tri Nations

	Forwards:	Collins • Eaton • Hayman • Hore • Jack • McCaw (c) • Masoe • Mealamu • Oliver • Rawlinson • Somerville • So'oialo • Thorne • Tialata • Williams • Woodcock
	Backs:	Carter • Cowan • Gear • Hamilton • Howlett • Kelleher • McAlister • MacDonald • Mauger • Muliaina • Rokocoko • Sivivatu • Toeava • Tuitupou • Weepu
	Coach:	Henry

	Crusaders - 2002 Unbeaten Season - Super 12 Champions
1 Dave Hewett \| 2 Mark Hammett \| 3 Greg Somerville \| 4 Chris Jack \| 5 Norm Maxwell \| 6 Reuben Thorne \| 7 Richie McCaw \| 8 Scott Robertson \| 9 Justin Marshall \| 10 Andrew Mehrtens \| 11 Caleb Ralph \| 12 Aaron Mauger \| 13 Nathan Mauger \| 14 Marika Vunibaka \| 15 Leon MacDonald \| 16 Greg Feek \| 17 Corey Flynn \| 18 Bradley Mika \| 19 Sam Broomhall \| 20 Ben Hurst \| 21 Joe Maddock \| 22 Ben Blair \| Nick White \| Johnny Leo’o \| Mark Robinson \| Coach Robbie Deans