While Sir Steve Hansen was knighted in 2019 for his unparalleled success as the All Blacks’ head coach, the conversation often shifts to Richie McCaw—arguably New Zealand’s greatest rugby player. Where is his knighthood?
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McCaw, a two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain, chose a different path. After leading the All Blacks to World Cup glory in 2015, he became the youngest-ever member of the prestigious Order of New Zealand, limited to just 20 living members. Many argue this honour surpasses a knighthood.
“It didn’t feel quite right”
Back in 2011, after McCaw captained the All Blacks to a triumphant World Cup win on home soil, then-Prime Minister John Key revealed he’d floated the idea of a knighthood. However, McCaw declined.
“In the end, the conclusion that he drew was that he would love to take it but now wasn’t the right time,” Key told RadioSport. “He made the call that he’s still in his playing career and it didn’t feel quite right for him.”
Key confirmed no formal offer was made. “We didn’t formally get to offer it to him in the sense that we knew if we offered it he wouldn’t take it.”
“I don’t know whether that’s the right thing just yet”
After securing back-to-back World Cup wins in 2015, Richie McCaw was again in the spotlight for a knighthood. Yet, he remained reluctant. Speaking to TVNZ after the tournament, McCaw said:
“I’m still pretty young, so to have a title [knighthood] like that, I don’t know whether that’s the right thing just yet.”
At the 2016 investiture ceremony where he officially joined the Order of New Zealand, McCaw reiterated his decision, saying it “sat more comfortably” with him.
“You can’t get any bigger than this”
Reflecting on his honours, Richie McCaw expressed no regrets about turning down a knighthood. “You can’t get any bigger than this,” he said of the Order of New Zealand.
For McCaw, staying grounded remained a priority: “At the end of the day, you’re an ordinary Kiwi really. People expect you to behave like that … it’s one of the things I’ve always been strong on.”
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“A little embarrassing”
As the youngest-ever recipient of the Order of New Zealand, McCaw admitted the accolade felt slightly awkward. “I have had friends point that out to me,” he laughed.
For now, the choice of whether he’ll ever become “Sir Richie” rests solely with McCaw himself. And knowing the man, he seems perfectly content as Richie McCaw—rugby’s greatest.
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Rugby World Cup-winning captains – can you name them all?
Out of these exceptional leaders, some have claimed the title just once, while others have done so on multiple occasions. Captains from nations such as New Zealand, Australia, England, and South Africa are part of the exclusive list of multiple-time champions.
We challenge you to identify all Rugby World Cup-winning captains across the tournament’s history spanning 10 editions.
