Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has announced his engagement to long-time girlfriend and national hockey player Gemma Flynn.
McCaw posted it on his official Facebook page tonight.
'Gemma said 'yes'!' - Richie McCaw, Gemma Flynn engaged - https://t.co/TEALkuvGqB pic.twitter.com/lMBMKQFac9
— nzherald (@nzherald) January 12, 2016
"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.
"Here's to a great year ahead."
The post was accompanied by two photographs. One shows the World Cup winning captain and Flynn together with glasses of champagne in hand - and a big sparkling diamond on Flynn's finger.
A second image is of the pair sitting around a restaurant table with their family celebrating the news. It appears to have been taken at The Landing in Wanaka.
The restaurant confirmed that the couple had dined there in recent weeks. However, staff were not let in on the secret engagement.
Tuesday's post has attraced hundreds of comments - including many lamenting that McCaw was now "taken".
"My 83-year-old mother is going to be devastated Richie. Congrats to you both," said Wendy Mackay.
"There will be a lot of sad woman out there after seeing this I am sure!!! Congrats you two," wrote Aimee Lee Madden.
Top honour
In the New Year Honours, McCaw made a member of the country's most honoured group, the Order of New Zealand. The award fell on December 31, his 35th birthday.
He is the youngest New Zealander to be appointed to the order and joins an elite list that includes former prime ministers Jim Bolger, Mike Moore and Helen Clark, sportsmen Sir Murray Halberg and Sir Bob Charles, opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and architect Sir Miles Warren.
McCaw announced his retirement from rugby following the 2015 World Cup victory against Australia.
The flanker ended his career as the most capped player (148) and captain (110) in world rugby. He won three World Rugby Player of the Year awards and led the All Blacks to successive World Cup victories in 2011 and last year.
In November, McCaw said he planned to start work as a commercial helicopter pilot in Christchurch. He would also concentrate on business, personal sponsorship and charity interests.
Gemma Flynn has made 168 appearances for the Black Sticks since making her debut in 2008. The 25-year-old's accomplishments include winning a silver medal as part of the Black Sticks at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and bronze in Glasgow in 2014.
- NZ Herald
