The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks captain, who was last night named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year at a ceremony in Auckland, this morning told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking why he didn't follow other professional rugby players overseas.
"When people started talking about those opportunities, I thought, 'what would be the reason I'd do that?' I thought 'there's nothing'. I didn't really want to.
"If it came about that you wanted to earn some good money that was on offer, to me that wasn't the right reason to go and play. I'd have to really want to do it for other reasons and there were none. I wanted to get on with something else, you know, start the new chapter,'' he said of his decision to become a professional helicopter pilot after ending his All Blacks career following last year's Rugby World Cup victory.
He had not been involved in rugby at all since his retirement, McCaw said.
"Literally nothing ... I always wanted it to be a bit like that so I could do other things. I didn't want to be the guy that's sort of hanging around and sort of almost there but not quite. From the Crusaders point of view, just stay away and let them get on with it. I'm going to watch some games coming up and be a fan.''
He may become involved in the game again "whether I can offer anything, maybe", the 35-year-old said.
"Until then, leave them to it and I'll do some other things.''
