The day I met Richie McCaw
- La 10co
- hace 4 días
- 5 Min. de lectura
Por: Juan José Marín
Follow the dream journey of an All Blacks fan meeting a rugby legend
Three years ago, I decided to pause my rugby career. A conversation with my stepfather Diego, who has always been like a father to me, helped me realize that I had already achieved my sports goals and it was time to pursue my personal dreams.
So, I moved to Australia with the hope of experiencing the culture of rugby and, above all, meeting my childhood hero: Richie McCaw.
One month after arriving in Sydney, I saw on social media that Richie was at a nearby event.
Although I rushed to the venue, I couldn't get in or get close to him. I returned home discouraged, thinking it would be a frustrated dream.
But Valentina, my partner and companion in this rugby passion, reminded me: “It’s your dream, you can’t give up.” That motivated me to come up with a new plan: to travel to New Zealand
Traveling across New zealand: on the trail of my rugby idol
In May 2024, we traveled across the country in a campervan, experiencing the passion for rugby firsthand.
In Christchurch, I attended a Crusaders match, where the energy and tradition of the place moved me—particularly the entrance of "The Guardians." It is a unique spectacle where knights on horseback enter the field representing the local Canterbury leagues and how they nurture the Crusaders. The match ended with a disappointing result, and I waited for the post-game meet and greet. I saw several rugby legends at the stadium, including Scott Robertson (the current All Blacks coach) and Kieran Read (the All Blacks captain in 2019). When Kieran stepped onto the pitch, it triggered a surge of fans that security had to restrain. It was then that I realized it would be easier to get an appointment with the Prime Minister of New Zealand than with Richie, a true national icon.
I continued my journey through the South Island...
On the way to Queenstown, an unexpected detour led us to a giant sign of Richie: "The land of McCaw, from country rugby to All Blacks captain."
That’s right—I had arrived in his hometown without even planning it.
We visited the pitch where he first played, and I sat on the bench that symbolizes his legacy. Being there reignited my determination to meet him.
A few days later, I received a notification for an event: "The Lunch of the 4 Rugby Kings." Unbelievable! Richie McCaw was returning to Sydney, this time accompanied by John Eales, the Australian rugby legend and captain of the 1999 World Champion Wallabies; Martin Johnson, the English rugby legend and captain of the 2003 World Champion England side; and John Smit, the South African rugby legend and 2007 World Champion. I contacted the event organizers, but getting a ticket wasn't easy, as it was designed for high-level executives and Australian rugby directors. Brad, the event host, helped me out after I told him my story and reserved two tickets for me.
But, well, it wasn't all roses...
When he told me the price of the ticket, I couldn't believe it. But at that point, it was just a matter of finding the money. Together with Valentina, we worked a lot of overtime and were able to afford the tickets.
Richie McCaw: more than a hero, an inspiration
The day of the event was unforgettable; I had been waiting for this moment for 15 years. I shared a table with passionate fans, including a South African with whom I had the best rugby conversation of my life. During the conference, each "king" shared valuable lessons, but Richie stood out for his humility and self-reflection
Each legend inspired me in differents way:
John Eales was perhaps the tallest person I have ever seen. It felt almost ridiculous to tell him that I played as a second-row in Colombia. When they asked him how he dealt with a player like David Campese, he replied: 'Controlling the players is the coach's job, but if he couldn't manage them, only the captain could.
Martín Johnson. Famous for his quote, 'If a tackle isn't hard, it isn't a tackle; it's an insult,' he was asked if it was difficult to be Jonny Wilkinson’s captain. He replied that 'yes, it was,' but that it was exactly that kind of madness and 'out-of-the-box' thinking that took England to the top of the podium. He said that, in the end, what matters most is 'how you contribute to the team.
As an anecdote, Johnson actually knew about rugby in Colombia, especially the women's team. He seemed genuinely impressed when I told him that there was men's rugby as well
John Schmidt, charisma man. His perspective is that to be a great rugby player, you must set your ego aside and work as a collective; it doesn't matter how many tackles you make per minute, how many tries you score, or how many meters you run if you aren't thinking about the team.
Richie McCaw, a true eminence of rugby. A self-critical man who doesn't mince words. I heard him speak bluntly, saying things like, 'Scott Robertson is a great coach for the Crusaders, but not for the All Blacks,' highlighting how the existing regionalism between the North and South Islands acts as a drag on the sport. To speak that way about someone who was your coach and who helped form you felt like the mark of a true great
La leyenda
At the end of the conference, the moment to meet Richie finally arrived. The other "kings" already knew I was Colombian, and when they saw me, they exclaimed excitedly: “Colombia!” When I finally stood before Richie, I looked him in the eyes and said: “You are my hero. Thank you for being my role model and for showing me that there is life after retirement.” He smiled and replied: “Thank you, I wasn’t expecting that.”
We took several photos, and he signed several of my jerseys. Just as the event organizer announced there would be no more signings, I asked him to sign just one more: my club jersey, Minotauros. Without hesitation, Richie ignored the announcement and said: “One more minute, we won't be long.” He took the jersey, pronounced the club's name perfectly, and remarked: “I know what it means to belong to a club.”
Before we said goodbye, we shared a hug, and he told me: “Thank you.” In that moment, I confirmed his humility and his character. Despite the pressure from the organizers, he did everything possible to ensure I enjoyed our meeting to the fullest.
I left beyond happy, grateful to life for fulfilling my dream and, above all, for having Valentina by my side. Her support was unwavering and fundamental in making this happen.
As a bonus to this whole process and through my passion for the game, I have been able to meet other great rugby personalities such as:
Joe Moody (Crusaders and former All Black World Champion)
Owen Franks (Crusaders and former All Black World Champion)
Kieran Read (Former All Blacks Captain)
Michael Hooper (Former Wallabies Captain)
Sevu Reece (All Blacks Winger)
George Bower (All Blacks Prop)
Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders)
Tanya Kalounivale (Black Ferns Prop)
Rob Penney (Crusaders Head Coach)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters)
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