Richie McCaw joins Mercedes-Benz's circle of friends

Richie McCaw has new wheels in addition to his wings, a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 d. Photo / Facebook/Richie McCaw

Since leading the All Blacks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup wins, Richie McCaw hasn't stopped.

Helicopter piloting, television ads and getting engaged to hockey star Gemma Flynn, so far a quiet retirement has eluded him.

And now, the 2016 New Zealander of the Year has signed on to Mercedes-Benz's Friend of the Brand programme.

He joins other "friends" The French Cafe's Simon Wright, Kate Sylvester and Working Style, and will now drive a new Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 d.

"It suits my lifestyle perfectly -- all the technology that these cars come with now is pretty awesome and they're great to drive. It's comfy to ride in and there is plenty of room to throw my gear in and do all the things that I do in my busy lifestyle," McCaw said.

"When I started talking to Mercedes-Benz what struck me was their values around being innovative and striving for excellence, as these are exactly the values I've always lived by."

The high-end car company's New Zealand general manager Ben Giffin said the deal made them "extremely proud".

"We couldn't think of a better fit for our brand than Richie, and we are absolutely delighted to align with someone of his calibre, who perfectly embodies the Mercedes-Benz ethos of, 'the best or nothing'."

The deal also gives the company's customers the chance to rub shoulders with McCaw when he appears at events.