Richie McCaw admits the King's Coronation dress code had him STUMPED

Richie McCaw admits the King’s Coronation dress code had him STUMPED as he represented New Zealand at Westminster Abbey… and World Cup-winning All Blacks captain reveals he was inundated with messages after the Royal occasion

• Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was part of King Charles III’s coronation
• McCaw represented New Zealand at Westminster Abbey last weekend
• The former World Cup winner admitted he couldn’t turn down the Royal invite 

When Richie McCaw landed back in New Zealand on Monday morning, jet-lagged from the 23-hour flight, his phone was inundated with messages. ‘Did we just see you on TV?’ asked friends and family following his surprise role in the King’s coronation.

Having been front and centre of the procession as Charles III arrived at Westminster Abbey, McCaw recalled: ‘People were probably watching their televisions and thinking, “What the hell is he doing there?”‘

In answer to their question, the former All Black captain told Mail Sport: ‘With New Zealand being part of the Commonwealth, I was lucky enough to receive the Order of New Zealand back in 2016. It’s probably the highest honour you get back in New Zealand, and I was part of that delegation that were asked to go to the coronation.

‘A couple of months ago they asked if I’d go along and I thought, ‘You don’t turn down the King’s coronation’. It wasn’t until much later on when they told me I needed to be at a rehearsal on the Thursday. I was there thinking, ‘What do I have to rehearse for?’ It only clicked when I landed.

‘Man, I was mixing it with guys with the Victoria Cross, Lord Coe. I didn’t really tell anyone back home so they were as surprised as anyone when they saw me walking in front of the King!’ 

Richie McCaw won two Rugby World Cup’s during a glittering career with New Zealand

McCaw (right) represented New Zealand at King Charles III coronation at Westminster Abbey

One of rugby’s most iconic players, McCaw has trained as a helicopter pilot in Christchurch since retiring from rugby. But he was back in the spotlight last weekend, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron.

‘All the heads of state were floating around and I was thinking, ‘That’s the French president, that’s the UK Prime Minister’,’ said the 42-year-old. ‘All these guys were floating around the room and then there’s me, a bloody rugby player from New Zealand!

‘The songs and stuff are a little bit foreign to Kiwis but the Brits do that really well. It was pretty amazing to hear. I’ve kept my invite and programme from the church. They had your name printed in the order of service which was pretty cool. I’ll hold on to those for a long time and show them around.

‘I was pinching myself, really. From my upbringing in the middle of New Zealand, my grandfather fought during the war and he always used to talk about the monarchy. They would have been blown away to see me at the crowning of the King a generation later.’

McCaw has also trained as a helicopter pilot in New Zealand since retiring from playing

McCaw admitted that he thought about waving to former England player and Royal member Mike Tindall (middle)

Not one for pomp and ceremony, he admitted that he was stumped by the dress code: ‘I got the dress code about morning suits. I actually had to Google what it meant. 

‘I thought the chances of me wearing it again are pretty low so I just went out and hired one. An off-the-peg job. It’s a bit easier to get suits now I’ve retired, a bit easier to find the right fit now I’ve lost a bit.

‘I was quite glad I did get a good suit because everyone else in the precession was in there with their regalia!’ 

McCaw was not the only retired rugby player at the service, with Mike Tindall attending alongside his wife, Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne.

‘I thought about waving at him from back in the cheap seats!’ joked McCaw. ‘I was looking for him as I walked in but couldn’t clock him. I’m sure I’ll catch up with him again at the World Cup… we haven’t made any bets yet but there’s still time! I’ll see how the All Blacks go in the Rugby Champ first!’

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