Richie McCaw retirement: Steve Hansen pays tribute to All Blacks captain

The 34-year-old openside flanker won a world record 148 caps for his country

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, left, with retiring captain Richie McCaw (Getty Images)

New Zealand’s head coach, Steve Hansen, paid tribute to Richie McCaw after the All Blacks captain announced his retirement from rugby in Wellington yesterday.

The 34-year-old openside flanker, who won a world record 148 caps, had been expected to retire after becoming the first man to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice and the All Blacks became the first team in World Cup history to successfully defend their title.

The announcement comes a day after Jonah Lomu’s death and there was a minute’s silence for the former New Zealand wing at the start of McCaw’s press conference.

McCaw said: “Today, I thought about whether it was the right thing to do this. But I’m going to be hanging up my boots. I sit here with no regrets as a rugby player. That last game as a rugby player was pretty satisfying.

“I’m hugely excited about the future. A couple of things I have in mind. I learnt to fly helicopters in 2009 and that’s going to be my thing from now. It’s something I’m passionate about.”

Hansen said: “On behalf of the All Blacks, we want to congratulate Richie on everything he has achieved in his career. All this success couldn’t have happened to a better bloke and we wish him all the very best for the future.

“In my opinion, he will go down not only as the greatest All Black of all time, but the greatest captain we have ever had and possibly the greatest player to have ever played the game in the modern era.

“His ability as a leader will be something he will be remembered for.”