Richie Mccaw Has Been Married To Wife Gemma Mccaw Since 2017

Richie McCaw, the legendary retired New Zealand rugby player, has been enjoying a happy marriage to his wife, Gemma McCaw, since 2017.

Their love story began in January 2013 when reports surfaced that Richie had been in a relationship with Gemma, a talented hockey player, for the past six months. However, the details of their initial encounter and the exact timeline of their romance remain a mystery. 

The couple revealed they have started a new chapter in their life when McCaw took to Facebook on January 12, 2016, to announce their engagement. 

Richie McCaw with his wife Gemma McCaw. (Source: Instagram)

In his post, he shared, “Happy new year to everyone. I’ve had a fantastic start to 2016 and feel very lucky. Gemma said ‘yes’! It’s been great celebrating our engagement with friends and family in sunny central Otago.” 

The pair exchanged vows in a beautiful ceremony on January 14, 2017, marking the commencement of a new chapter in their lives as a married couple.

Meet Richie McCaw’s wife Gemma McCaw

Gemma, formerly Gemma Flynn, is a talented New Zealand field hockey player, making significant strides in her career while proudly representing her nation on the international stage. 

Born on May 2, 1990, in the vibrant city of Tauranga, Gemma is the youngest child and the sole daughter of her parents, Rob Flynn and Michelle Flynn. 

Proudly embracing her Māori descent, she affiliates with the Te Arawa iwi, connecting deeply with her cultural roots. 

Speaking of her educational background, she attended Tauranga Intermediate School and Tauranga Girls’ College. As she advanced in her academic pursuits, Gemma pursued sports science at Massey University.

Richie McCaw’s wife Gemma McCaw is a hockey player

Gemma is a professional hockey player, who competed for the New Zealand women’s national field hockey team, known as the Black Sticks Women, since 2008. 

Her impressive career includes notable appearances at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics, despite her team missing out on the bronze medal in both 2012 and 2016 and thus coming fourth.

Despite the setbacks in the Olympic competitions, Gemma’s journey reached a turning point following the 2016 Summer Olympics when she decided to take an extended break from hockey, signaling a temporary pause in her illustrious career. 

However, she made a comeback in November 2019. Just a few months later, in February 2020, she achieved a remarkable milestone, earning her 250th cap for the national team.

The hockey player had planned to compete in the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020; however, she chose against it because of the COVID-19 pandemic delays.

Beyond the hockey field, she has been actively involved in various initiatives and campaigns. Notably, she played a prominent role alongside other celebrities such as Luuka Jones, Kane Williamson, Ria Hall, and Tiki Taane in the Bay of Plenty’s No Place Like Home tourist campaign, launched on January 25, 2016. 

Moreover, she has also been an ambassador for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation since October 2016 and also serves as a Sport New Zealand ambassador.

Richie McCaw and his wife Gemma McCaw share three children

Richie and his wife Gemma are the proud parents of three children, all beautiful daughters. They recently welcomed their third daughter Ella Mae McCaw on April 3, 2023. 

The pair shared the pregnancy news on September 30, 2022, through an Instagram post, exclaiming their excitement about expecting their third child. 

Fast forward to April 2023, in a heartwarming Instagram post, the couple introduced their newborn to the world, expressing their delight in the newfound moments as a family of five. 

The pair wrote, “Meet our new baby girl, Ella Mae McCaw she was born on 3.4.23 weighing 7lb 10 oz and we are enjoying these precious moments as a family of 5,” accompanied by the picture of Richie with his newborn.

Grace, their second daughter, was welcomed into the world in May 2021, while Charlotte, the eldest, was born in December 2018. 

The mother of three, Gemma has been candid about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her passion for the sport. 

In an interview with Newstalk ZB in November 2019 via nzherald, Gemma shared her inner conflict and the sense of “unfinished business” that led her back to the field. 

She recounted a pivotal moment when, four months after Charlotte’s birth, she played in a club hockey game, rekindling her passion for the sport. 

Gemma went on to describe how this experience fueled her desire to play at a high level again, ultimately leading her to compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Australian League. 

A look at Richie McCaw’s legendary career

Despite having only played seventeen matches for Canterbury at the age of 20, Richie caught the attention of John Mitchell, the new All-Black coach, who selected him for the 2001 end-of-year tour to Ireland, Scotland, and Argentina. 

The decision faced criticism, with former All-Black Josh Kronfeld expressing disbelief at picking players based on one NPC season. However, Richie quickly silenced doubters in his debut international test against Ireland at Lansdowne Road. 

Despite a knock-on in his first touch and a halftime deficit, the All Blacks rallied in the second half to win 40–29, with Richie named man of the match. 

In the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup, he played a crucial role for Canterbury, the Crusaders, and the All Blacks. The Tri-Nations title was retained, and the Bledisloe Cup returned to New Zealand after a victory against Australia. 

His impressive performance earned him a spot in the 2003 World Cup squad, where New Zealand won all their pool games but suffered an upset defeat to Australia in the semi-finals. 

While the Crusaders finished as Super 12 runner-ups in 2004, the now-retired player faced injuries and had to withdraw from matches. However, he returned to captain Canterbury and led the All Blacks in the end-of-season tour. 

In 2005, Richie overcame head injuries to captain the All Blacks in a successful Grand Slam tour, defeating all four home nations. Despite his injury concerns, his exceptional performances led to his nomination for the 2005 IRB International Player of the Year.

In 2006, at the age of 25, he was named captain of the All Blacks. Under his captaincy, New Zealand emerged as the 2006 Tri-Nations champions and retained the Bledisloe Cup. 

The success continued with victories against England, France, and Wales on the European tour. McCaw’s outstanding contributions earned him the 2006 IRB International Player of the Year award.

The 2007 World Cup brought both glory and heartbreak for Richie. While the All Blacks comfortably progressed through the pool stage, they faced an unexpected defeat to France in the quarter-finals, resulting in New Zealand’s earliest exit from a World Cup. 

In 2008, he led the All Blacks to a remarkable season, winning every test he captained and reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. 

Moreover, he guided the All Blacks to triumphs in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, lifting the Webb Ellis trophy after a nail-biting final against France. 

Under coach Steve Hansen, the All Blacks achieved a 100% winning record in the Rugby Championship and won the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with Richie captaining the team for the record-breaking 13th time in a World Cup match. 

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