All Blacks captain Richie McCaw says goodbye to Eden Park fans after winning against Australia during the Bledisloe Cup test match between the All Blacks and Wallabies, held at Eden Park on Saturday.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw says goodbye to Eden Park fans after winning against Australia during the Bledisloe Cup test match between the All Blacks and Wallabies, held at Eden Park on Saturday.
If Richie McCaw turns his hand to politics after hanging up his rugby boots, a few political parties will be lining up to take him on.
Several leaders expressed at least some interest in having the All Black captain as a candidate yesterday, though the Act Party said he would need some rigorous vetting first.
That came after Prime Minister John Key made an offhand comment about the record-breaking loose forward moving into politics after his stellar rugby career.
Noting a "Richie for prime minister" banner at Eden Park on Saturday, Mr Key said: "I thought, well not a bad option really".
"He has got a massive brand and you think how successful Colin Meads is now and Richie is at the starting point of that," he told TV3's Paul Henry Show.
"He's articulate, he's an intelligent guy, there's a range of things he could do. I don't know if politics is one of those options. He has a lot of business interests and I'd think he'd pursue one of those."
Aside from the occasional selfie with Mr Key after All Black tests, McCaw has expressed little interest in politics.
But party leaders across the spectrum warmed to the idea of him joining Parliament.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said McCaw would "fit in well with our kaupapa".
"It would be great to have the calibre of leadership that someone such as Richie McCaw would bring. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if he isn't already a Māori Party member given our universal appeal to New Zealanders."
Green Party co-leader James Shaw said McCaw was welcome to join the Greens, with one proviso: "Can he bring Piri Weepu with him?"
Labour leader Andrew Little said McCaw embodied many of the Labour principles such as hard work, determination, and a vision for the future.
"He also doesn't mind the odd bloody nose which can be a help in politics," Mr Little said.
But wary of the fact that no politician ended their political career with their reputation intact, Mr Little envisaged a different role for him.
"We think being an MP for him is a backward step. We want him as president of New Zealand."
For the Act Party, McCaw's record 142 caps and Rugby World Cup title counted for little if he did not have a firm grasp on policy.
"That's the first thing," leader David Seymour said.
"What does he think about the regulatory environment, what does he think about tax? Does he think there should be more school choice? Those of the sort of questions we'd have to ask him. The last thing you want is a guy who's very popular and thinks all policies are ho-hum.
"Other than that, he seems like a fairly competent guy."
2012: All Black Richie McCaw at the Rugby Awards. Photo / Dean Purcell
Richie McCaw
National: "He's articulate, he's an intelligent guy, there's a range of things he could do." Labour: " He ... doesn't mind the odd bloody nose which can be a help in politics." Greens: "Richie is welcome to join the Green Party, but can he bring Piri Weepu with him?" Maori Party: "It would be great to have the calibre of leadership that someone such as Richie McCaw would bring." Act: "What does he think about the regulatory environment, what does he think about tax?"
