McCaw nominated for knighthood

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been nominated for a royal recognition, and potentially a knighthood, with the government confirming the presence of the flanker on the list of nominations which has been forwarded to the Queen.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet yesterday revealed that McCaw’s name was on the list, with an estimated several hundred nominated each year from New Zealand.

There was a formal reorganisation of the honours list in 1996, meaning that glorious sounding titles like the Order of St Michael and St George are not bestowed on New Zealanders – who have their own list.

The Order of New Zealand is the country’s highest civilian award, with multiple levels of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the highest being recognised as a Grand Knight or Dame Grand Companion.

In 2009 Prime Minister John Key announced the return of knighthoods to the New Zealand Honours system, with past recipients of the New Zealand Order of Merit to be eligible to receive titles.

While individuals are nominated, the Queen can on special occasions confer her own awards.

McCaw if chosen would join a rare club of sportsmen who have received the honour while still active, with Sir Richard Hadlee and Sir Russell Coutts recognised New Zealand sportsmen who have gained titles while plying their respective trades.

Key joked that McCaw should receive a knighthood if he won the World Cup, although 1987 World Cup winning coach Sir Brian Lochore, who was knighted in 1999, said that it could be awkward if the current captain received his award while still playing.

Last year New Zealand Rugby celebrated the naming of former All Blacks captain, coach and rugby icon, Fred "The Needle" Allen, as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He joined Lochore as well as Sir Wilson Whineray and Sir Colin Meads as other past All Blacks to recieve honours.