Legendary All Blacks captain Richie McCaw injured in cycling accident
Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw competing in an endurance event.
Two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw has sustained a suspected broken rib following a cycling accident.
The 42-year-old was taking part in the 5 Passes Tour on New Zealand’s South Island when he came off his bike.
McCaw suffered also grazes during the four-day challenge and his wife, Gemma, took to Instagram, captioning her post: “I’m on wound cleaning after a nasty fall”, before adding: “And trying to diagnose a broken rib”.
Not serious
Fortunately the injuries were not too serious and the former All Blacks skipper was able to complete the race.
He then took to social media himself to mark the end of the event.
“Awesome to finish the 5 Passes bike tour. We covered 618km and 5800m of climbing over four days of riding from Christchurch to Greymouth via the Lewis Pass and back via the Arthur’s Pass,” he wrote.
“A lot of hurt trying to keep up in A grade but satisfying to see my team mate Luke McPherson claim the yellow jersey and Nathan Cohen the sprinters jersey.”
Since retiring in 2015 following his second World Cup win, McCaw has competed in a variety of endurance events.
The ex-back-row ended his career with a then-world record number of caps (148) and lifted the Webb Ellis Cup on two occasions.
Agonising 2023 loss
He spoke recently about the disappointment of the 2023 loss in France as the Springboks claimed the title with a 12-11 triumph over New Zealand in the final.
“It was hard to take. If you’re not even in with a chance you know you couldn’t have won but the fact that they got close, I don’t know if it makes it better or worse,” McCaw said, as reported by Nine’s Wide World of Sports.
“As a fan sitting there watching, I felt for the guys.
“It’s one of those things that will always sit with them, that they got so close but didn’t quite nail it.
“But that’s the nature of World Cups, they’re not easy to win and you’ve got to get everything spot on when it counts.
“It was hard to see them disappointed at the end, but that’s what happens in sport.”
READ MORE: All Blacks legend Richie McCaw reflects on ‘hard to take’ Rugby World Cup anguish
