'Didn't really want that': All Blacks great Richie McCaw on retirement

After leading the All Blacks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup crowns in 2015, captain Richie McCaw famously said that he “didn’t want it to end” amidst rumours of his retirement.

New Zealand rugby fans let out a cheer at Twickenham, as if pleading with the inspirational skipper to keep on fighting as the gladiatorial warrior that McCaw was in an All Blacks jersey.

But as the adage goes, “All good things must come to an end.” On the 19^th of November 2015, the outgoing All Black officially announced his retirement from the sport.

McCaw played 148 Test matches in the black jersey, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of rugby union. With two World Cup titles to his name, both as captain, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

The rugby world wanted more, but McCaw knew it was time. The legendary All Black kept the door “that tiny bit ajar” before that tournament in England, but knew it would probably be his last.

“I knew I wasn’t gonna be playing the following year 'cause I didn’t have a contract," McCaw said on the All Blacks Podcast.

“First of all, I didn’t want to make it about, ‘Oh this is the last time I do this.’ I kind of knew that.

“If I got to the end and decided, ‘Hell, I still want to keep playing’… the door was still that tiny bit ajar and I probably could have figured out a way to carry on.

“If I’d said, ‘I’m retiring,’ the door was almost shut, whereas I didn’t really want that. That might sound really silly.

“I knew that I was going to be giving it up, but on the off chance things changed, I just wanted to have that door just a little bit ajar.”

McCaw played at four Rugby World Cups and managed to walk away from the sport with two winners medals.

Being a two-time champion of rugby’s showpiece event is an exclusive club, but McCaw – along with some legendary teammates in the black jersey – is rightfully a member.

McCaw famously led the All Blacks to a drought-breaking World Cup triumph at the 2011 tournament in New Zealand. Stephen Donald was the hero as the New Zealanders ended 24 years of hurt.

That’s what made 2015 so special. The All Blacks had gone more than two decades without winning rugby’s top prize, but went on to become the first-ever side to go back-to-back.

“When the final whistle went in 2015, there was a little moment where it hit me,” McCaw added.

“All of a sudden I became almost disappointed, but then a flip second later I was like, ‘Wow, we’ve just won the World Cup, I’m going to enjoy every minute I’ve still got wearing the jersey.’

“I made sure I did that.

"I knew pretty quickly afterwards that you know that you just can't do it again, and I just said, 'I just don't need to prove it.'"