New Zealand Local Weather Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Suezy on March 27, 2012, 10:18:12 PM
-
No Sir for Richie McCaw - for now
Last updated 08:40 16/12/2011
Rugby Back in winning Crusader country Crusaders christen new home with win Working up to kick-off Is Canterbury rugby really flush? Emotion of venue could be liability AMI names new $30m stadium Crusaders team named for emotional homecoming Fans urged to leave cars at home Crusaders' Crotty ready to step up against Cheetahs Crusaders tickets selling fast
All Black Richie McCaw has turned down a knighthood, Prime Minister John Key says.
He told Radio Sport he had asked McCaw about receiving a New Year Honour.
"In the end, the conclusion that he drew was that he would love to take it but now wasn't the right time."
Key said he was deadly serious in making the offer, which is bestowed by the Queen.
"He made the call that he's still in his playing career and it didn't feel quite right for him, that day where he's no longer on the pitch may be the right time for him," Key said.
He says there was no formal offer made in the end.
"We didn't formally get to offer it to him in the sense that we knew if we offered it he wouldn't take it, but had he shown indication that he would've - then we certainly would've offered it to him, I certainly wanted him to take it."
Key told Radio Sport McCaw would be among the country's knights one day.
"I have no doubt if we're the government or whoever is the government at that point will go back and talk to him, but it won't be happening on January 1, 2012."
He says an awful lot of New Zealanders will respect McCaw for that decision.
Copied from the Press
-
I admire Richie for this decision. Many would jump at the opportunity, but he has not. Well done Richie, you have a lot more to give yet to the game of rugby.