I captained New Zealand to two consecutive Rugby World Cups, now I’m a helicopter pilot
LEGENDARY former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has taken an unusual path after retiring from the game.
The former New Zealand international captained his side in 110 of the 148 test matches that he played for the All Blacks.
He won two Rugby World Cup’s as well as three World Rugby Player of the Year awards before retiring aged 34.
And in the eyes of many, he’s the finest player to ever play the sport.
But in an interview with Ireland’s 98fm, McCaw admitted that he now rarely thinks about the game as he’s turned his sights to a new career.
He said: “Apart from coming to the odd game here and there to watch as a fan, I really have taken a full step back from it and actually I’m pretty much full-time flying helicopters as a commercial pilot now.
“So that’s now my new day to day gig and it’s a lot of fun.”
The former flanker learned to fly helicopters while playing in 2009.
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McCaw made it clear when he stepped back from playing in 2015 that this wasn’t a retirement but a career change to explore his passion for flying helicopters.
Working as a commercial pilot, his day to day activities are focused on tourism, commercial utility work as well as working as an instructor.
And while McCaw flies helicopters for his profession – he also uses his skills for charitable causes.
A year after retiring in 2016, he was one of the helicopter volunteers that helped give aid to the New Zealand island of Kaikoura when it was hit by an earthquake.
McCaw worked tirelessly alongside his colleagues, transporting supplies, people, resources and first aid equipment after all the roads in and out of the township had been destroyed.
Speaking to New Zealand outlet Tracplus, McCaw said: “I took the fire crew up just to make sure everyone was OK in the houses and the roads that were stuck there.”
He also volunteered during the Canterbury Christmas Day Fire in 2017 to put out a fire that needed 20 fire trucks and five helicopters to extinguish.