All Black captain Richie McCaw has a renewed enthusiasm for rugby after his long sabbatical.
McCaw (32) spoke to the Otago Daily Times when he was in Dunedin at the weekend to attend the 150th celebrations of his old school.
The former Otago Boys' High School head boy will return to the All Blacks against the Wallabies at Sydney in the opening game of the Rugby Championship on August 17.
McCaw had a sabbatical after last year's northern hemisphere tour with the All Blacks and has only recently returned to rugby.
''I'm excited about it,'' he said.
He admits it is not easy getting back into fulltime rugby.
''It was as tough as it was always going to be,'' he said.
''I have done a lot of training over the last three months so it is just a matter of getting back into contact. But I haven't had a full game yet.''
McCaw spent time touring in the United States and the United Kingdom and caught up with some of his mates.
''I went to places I hadn't been before, where no-one knows much about footy. That was purely to get away from the game.
''I didn't watch any rugby for a while and started training at the start of May.''
McCaw would not have been able to attend the Otago Boys' High School celebrations if the Crusaders had made the Super 15 final.
''It is one positive of losing last week, I suppose. I always enjoy coming down here and seeing a few of the old faces.
''I'm always proud of my old school and my old mates. They are a good bunch of people.''
McCaw, originally from Kurow, said being a boarder at the Otago Boys' hostel, School House, helped develop his leadership skills.
''It was a big change in my life, going to the hostel. My parents always told me to make the most of every opportunity. You learn quickly when you are with 130 kids in the hostel.''
Rugby was not at the top of his agenda when he decided to study at Lincoln College after leaving Otago Boys'.
''I have a farming background and always wanted to be a farmer,'' he said.
''When I got a rugby scholarship to Lincoln College, the sport became a big incentive for me. But it was not the real reason I went to Lincoln. It was what I'd always planned to do.''
One of McCaw's All Black No 7 jerseys was auctioned at the dinner and sold for $4500. He also donated a 2011 World Cup jersey signed by the All Black team. It was purchased by 1968 Olympian Peter Welsh for $8000.
