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Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw (born December 31, 1980 in Kurow, Oamaru) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the openside flanker position and is the current captain of New Zealand. McCaw also represents Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup (formerly the National Provincial Championship, or NPC) and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
[edit] Early life
McCaw was born and raised in Otago. His grandfather, Jim, flew for the Allies in England during Second World War.
McCaw 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] Career
He was sidelined for the middle part of 2004 with a head injury, but came back mid-way through the Air New Zealand NPC to captain the Canterbury side to a stunning final victory over Wellington. He earned the Air New Zealand NPC Division One Player of the Year for his effort.
A tireless worker who reads the game well, McCaw was voted as Newcomer of the Year by the International Rugby Players Association in 2002.
He was brought up in North Otago and educated at Otago Boys High, where he played his rugby at No 8.
He had an outstanding 2003 Rugby World Cup and won the New Zealand player of the year award at the 2003 and 2006 Steinlager Rugby Awards.
He was awarded the IRB Player of the Year award in 2006 after being a finalist in both the International Rugby Players Association and IRB awards in 2003 and again for the IRB in 2005.
Now into his seventh season of Super 14, McCaw led Canterbury to the NPC title in 2004 and then took the Crusaders to back-to-back Super 14 titles in 2005 and 2006 before assuming command of the national team.
[edit] Achievements
- 2001 Under 21 player of the year
- 2002 NPC Division One Player of the Year
- 2003 Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy for Player of the Year
- 2004 NPC Division One Player of the Year
- 2006 Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy for Player of the Year and Captain of New Zealand National Rugby Union Team
[edit] External links
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Crusaders – current squad |
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Forwards |
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| Persondata |
| NAME |
Richard Hugh McCaw |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
Richie McCaw |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
New Zealand Rugby union footballer. |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
31 December 1980 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
Oamaru, New Zealand |
| DATE OF DEATH |
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| PLACE OF DEATH |
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Daniel Carter
Bryan Habana
