   richard hugh "richie" mccaw (born 31 december 1980) is a new zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain of the all blacks â the country's national team. he predominantly plays in the openside flanker position for the new zealand, crusaders and canterbury teams, but had also played as blindside flanker and no. 8. mccaw is considered by many as the greatest openside flanker of all time, with his ability to anticipate play and adaptability to the referee's rulings two of his key attributes. he was raised in rural south canterbury, before moving to dunedin in 1994 to board at otago boys' high school. in 1999 he moved to christchurch to study at lincoln university and was selected in the national under-19 team. the following year he played for the under-21s and canterbury in the national provincial championship (npc), before debuting in 2001 for the crusaders in super rugby. he 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 and was selected as new zealand's first choice openside flanker for the 2003 world cup. mccaw became a regular selection for new zealand, only missing a few games due to reoccurring concussions. in 2006 he was appointed captain of the all blacks â who h
1980_births Barbarian_F.C._players Canterbury_rugby_union_players Crusaders_(rugby_union)_players IRB_Awards_winners IRB_Players_of_the_Year Lincoln_University_(New_Zealand)_alumni Living_people New_Zealand_international_rugby_union_players New_Zealand_people_of_Scottish_descent New_Zealand_rugby_union_players People_educated_at_Otago_Boys\'_High_School People_from_Oamaru Rugby_union_flankers Super_Rugby_players