Richie McCaw's incredible 27kg body transformation after quitting rugby

Sunday, 14 June 2026 at 21:33

byRugby Rucker

Rugby fans cannot believe Richie McCaw's body transformation as the All Blacks legend showed off he has lost muscle mass since hanging up his boots.

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Since retiring, the double World Cup-winner has become obsessed with ultra-hardcore marathons and has shifted a lot of that weight to give him a speed advantage.

The 41-year-old, who weighed 110 kg, is now closer to 85kg since dropping the weight.

For context, that's a weight drop of over three stone.

McCaw, the epitome of rugby excellence, is a New Zealand sporting legend. Born on December 31, 1980, in Oamaru, New Zealand, McCaw rose to prominence as a dynamic and tenacious flanker.

His illustrious career with the All Blacks saw him become the most capped player in rugby union history, with numerous accolades including two Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015, both as captain.

McCaw's leadership, unmatched work ethic, and unparalleled skills on the field have solidified his status as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, inspiring generations with his relentless pursuit of greatness.

RICHIE MCCAW DREAM TEAM:

BACK-THREE:

15. Christian Cullen (New Zeland)
14. Julian Savea (New Zealand)
11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

McCawon Lomu: “When I first became an All Black he was in the team. To play alongside a guy you have watched as a young fella was pretty amazing. He made me look silly in training more than once.

"He is one of the absolute superstars of rugby. If you go to somewhere where rugby is perhaps not well known then the one guy they do know is Jonah. It's really sad that he's passed away at age 40. He was a legend of the All Blacks and a legend of rugby."

CENTRES:

13. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
12. Jonny Wilkinson (England)

McCaw on Wilkinson: "He'll go down as one of the greats of world rugby."

HALFBACKS:

10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

McCaw on Carter: "There are a lot of good players but the guys who did it for a long time and that I've been lucky to play with is Dan Carter. In the final, he was sensational and he's been great for a long time. So to be able to play with him for the years I've been playing was pretty cool."

FRONT-ROW:

1. Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
2. Dane Coles (New Zealand)
3. Olo Brown (New Zealand)

McCaw on Woodcock: "If you're looking for a night out, stay away from Tony Woodcock or go and see Tony Woodcock. He's been on the same team as me since I was 18, we played in age grade together."

SECOND-ROW:

4. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
5. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

BACK-ROW:

6. Richard Hill (England)
7. Schalk Burger (South Africa)
8. George Smith (Australia)

McCaw on Hill: “Extremely gifted player who had all the ability in the world. When England needed someone to dig in he was your man. He had the full tool bag and quietly got on with it.”

McCaw on Smith: Speaking in a Q+A with World Rugby, McCaw's revealed former Wallabies flanker George Smith as the one he feared most on the field, saying Smith "was always pretty tough".

“I remember playing him when I was in the under 19s against Australia and remember then thinking just what a good player he is.”

McCaw on Burger: "You can come up against another tough team but never feel like you have had a tough match against your opposite. But with Burger you knew where they are going to be and how hard they play near the ball."

Richie McCaw breaks silence on decision to reject knighthood honour

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