Richie McCaw was on Saturday named the new All Blacks rugby captain to succeed the now retired Tana Umaga.
McCaw has been the only heir apparent to Umaga for the past year, and his appointment, announced by All Blacks coach Graham Henry, had been expected.
Henry said McCaw was a world-class player who led by example and was the obvious choice to replace the popular Umaga.
The announcement, made at McCaw’s rugby club in Christchurch, came the morning after the champion flanker led his Canterbury Crusaders to a 33-3 defeat of the ACT Brumbies to ensure the top spot going into the Super 14 semifinals.
The 25-year-old made his All Blacks debut against Ireland in 2001 and first captained the side in Umaga’s absence against Wales at Cardiff in 2004. — AFP
