Gemma Flynn in action for the Black Sticks. Photo / Duncan Brown
How former All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw popped the question to long-term girlfriend and Tauranga Black Sticks player Gemma Flynn remains a secret for now with the couple and their families remaining tight-lipped.
But it is the burning question tens of thousands of fans desperately want to know.
McCaw broke the news on his Facebook page on Tuesday night, revealing he had spent the new year celebrating his engagement to the 25-year-old Black Sticks player.
"Happy new year to everyone. I've had a fantastic start to 2016 and feel very lucky," he said.
"Gemma said 'yes'! It's been great celebrating our engagement with friends and family in sunny central Otago. Here's to a great year ahead."
The post was accompanied by two photographs.
One shows the Rugby World Cup winning captain and his fiance together holding glasses of champagne - and a big sparkler on the hockey star's ring finger.
A second image shows the pair sitting around a restaurant table celebrating with their family.
All was quiet at Flynn's parents' Tauranga home yesterday, but when the Bay of Plenty Times spoke to her father Rob Flynn last night, he said he could not talk about their engagement at this time as it was a private matter.
Flynn's mother, Michelle Flynn, is a teacher at Tauranga Intermediate, which she attended before heading to Tauranga Girls College, and her father is a contract engineer.
McCaw's father Don also declined to comment, saying the engagement was "their business".
The Black Stick and former All Black are understood to have been dating since 2012.
Flynn, who is set to marry one of the country's most eligible bachelors, has played 213 tests for the Black Sticks since 2008 - the year she went to the Beijing Olympics.
The midfielder is the New Zealand women's squad's fourth-highest goalscorer of all time.
Thousands of fans have been quick to congratulate the rugby star and his bride-to-be while the Black Sticks also shared a tweet to congratulate their player.
Last night McCaw's Facebook page was flooded with congratulatory posts - with more than 106,000 "likes". A post from Kerry Anne Coles echoed the sentiments of many: "Congrats, Richie.
"Wishing you and Gemma many, many happy years together. I'm sure a lot of hearts are breaking with the news that the country's most popular bachelor is now off the market!"
While sharing their engagement with the fans, the couple remain tight-lipped about the rest of their nuptial plans for now.
Additional reporting NZME
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