WELLINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) - Factbox on All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union on a four-year contract until 2015 on Wednesday.
Born: Dec. 31, 1980 in Oamaru, North Otago
MAKING HIS MARK
* Grew up on a farm in the Hakatarema Valley in South Canterbury and played for the Kurow club as a youngster.
* Was a member of the New Zealand under-19 side that won the world title in Wales in 1999.
* Selected for the Canterbury Crusaders Super rugby team in 2001.
* Captained the NZ under-21 team and played a full season for Canterbury in the national provincial championship, earning selection to John Mitchell's All Blacks squad for the tour of Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
ALL BLACKS DEBUT
* Makes his test debut in 2001 against Ireland, aged 20, and was named man of the match in the 40-29 victory.
* Named International Rugby Board's Newcomer of the Year.
* Cemented his reputation as one of the game's gentleman, helping wrestle to the ground a spectator who had stormed the field and tackled referee David McHugh in the All Blacks Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Durban in 2002.
LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL
* Firmly cemented as the first-choice openside flanker as the All Blacks won the 2003 Tri-Nations and regained the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since relinquishing it in 1998.
* Stand out in the 2003 World Cup campaign, appearing in every game, though the All Blacks were halted by the Wallabies in the semi-final. Named New Zealand's Player of the Year.
* Suffered a succession of head knocks in 2004, which kept him out for several months. Returned during the provincial competition and captained Canterbury to their final victory against Wellington.
* New All Blacks coach Graham Henry anointed him as the successor to Tana Umaga when he named him as the 60th All Blacks captain, at age 23, for the All Blacks 25-24 victory over Wales in Cardiff on Nov. 24, 2004.
* Confirmed as All Blacks captain in June, 2006, leading the side to 11 wins in 12 tests. Named as New Zealand and IRB Player of the Year.
* Scores the first two tries for the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup as the New Zealanders swept past Italy 76-14 in Marseille.
* One of the targets of criticism for the All Blacks 20-18 loss to France in the quarter-finals.
* Leads the Crusaders to their seventh Super rugby title.
INJURIES
* Ankle injury keeps him out for the start of the 2008 Tri-Nations with Rodney So'oialo standing in.
* Returned to lead the side to a 39-10 victory over the Wallabies in Auckland, a week after the side had been upset 34-19 by the Australians in Sydney.
* Suffers two knee injuries in the 2009 Super rugby season, keeping him out of the early tests before returning for the Tri-Nations.
* All Blacks struggle with the new law interpretations, losing all three tests against South Africa but beating the Wallabies three times.
* Leads the All Blacks to another unbeaten test tour of Europe and named the IRB's Player of the Year for a second time. Also named as New Zealand's Player of the Year for a third time.
MILESTONES
* Brings up his 100th Super rugby game in the Crusaders 42-14 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town on May 1, 2010.
* Leads the All Blacks to an unbeaten 2010 Tri-Nations and surpasses Sean Fitzpatrick as the most capped All Blacks test captain in the 23-22 victory against the Wallabies in Sydney. The match was his 52nd in charge.
* Suffers the All Blacks' first defeat against the Wallabies since 2008 and a first loss in 15 internationals overall in Hong Kong.
* Becomes the most capped All Blacks player, along with fullback Mils Muliaina, with their 93rd appearance against Ireland on 2010 grand slam tour.
* All Blacks achieve third grand slam in five years, with McCaw leading the side in all four games. Has now captained the side to 50 victories in 57 matches and played 94 tests in total.
* Named the IRB's Player of the Year for a third time. Also New Zealand's Sportman Of The Year.
FUTURE
* Misses the start to the Crusaders' 2011 Super rugby season after undergoing surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot and his return is hampered by a bruised foot and a head knock.
* May 25, re-commits to NZRU until 2015, one week after the NZRU announced the securing of flyhalf Daniel Carter on a four-year contract.
Born: Dec. 31, 1980 in Oamaru, North Otago
MAKING HIS MARK
* Grew up on a farm in the Hakatarema Valley in South Canterbury and played for the Kurow club as a youngster.
* Was a member of the New Zealand under-19 side that won the world title in Wales in 1999.
* Selected for the Canterbury Crusaders Super rugby team in 2001.
* Captained the NZ under-21 team and played a full season for Canterbury in the national provincial championship, earning selection to John Mitchell's All Blacks squad for the tour of Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
ALL BLACKS DEBUT
* Makes his test debut in 2001 against Ireland, aged 20, and was named man of the match in the 40-29 victory.
* Named International Rugby Board's Newcomer of the Year.
* Cemented his reputation as one of the game's gentleman, helping wrestle to the ground a spectator who had stormed the field and tackled referee David McHugh in the All Blacks Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Durban in 2002.
LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL
* Firmly cemented as the first-choice openside flanker as the All Blacks won the 2003 Tri-Nations and regained the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since relinquishing it in 1998.
* Stand out in the 2003 World Cup campaign, appearing in every game, though the All Blacks were halted by the Wallabies in the semi-final. Named New Zealand's Player of the Year.
* Suffered a succession of head knocks in 2004, which kept him out for several months. Returned during the provincial competition and captained Canterbury to their final victory against Wellington.
* New All Blacks coach Graham Henry anointed him as the successor to Tana Umaga when he named him as the 60th All Blacks captain, at age 23, for the All Blacks 25-24 victory over Wales in Cardiff on Nov. 24, 2004.
* Confirmed as All Blacks captain in June, 2006, leading the side to 11 wins in 12 tests. Named as New Zealand and IRB Player of the Year.
* Scores the first two tries for the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup as the New Zealanders swept past Italy 76-14 in Marseille.
* One of the targets of criticism for the All Blacks 20-18 loss to France in the quarter-finals.
* Leads the Crusaders to their seventh Super rugby title.
INJURIES
* Ankle injury keeps him out for the start of the 2008 Tri-Nations with Rodney So'oialo standing in.
* Returned to lead the side to a 39-10 victory over the Wallabies in Auckland, a week after the side had been upset 34-19 by the Australians in Sydney.
* Suffers two knee injuries in the 2009 Super rugby season, keeping him out of the early tests before returning for the Tri-Nations.
* All Blacks struggle with the new law interpretations, losing all three tests against South Africa but beating the Wallabies three times.
* Leads the All Blacks to another unbeaten test tour of Europe and named the IRB's Player of the Year for a second time. Also named as New Zealand's Player of the Year for a third time.
MILESTONES
* Brings up his 100th Super rugby game in the Crusaders 42-14 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town on May 1, 2010.
* Leads the All Blacks to an unbeaten 2010 Tri-Nations and surpasses Sean Fitzpatrick as the most capped All Blacks test captain in the 23-22 victory against the Wallabies in Sydney. The match was his 52nd in charge.
* Suffers the All Blacks' first defeat against the Wallabies since 2008 and a first loss in 15 internationals overall in Hong Kong.
* Becomes the most capped All Blacks player, along with fullback Mils Muliaina, with their 93rd appearance against Ireland on 2010 grand slam tour.
* All Blacks achieve third grand slam in five years, with McCaw leading the side in all four games. Has now captained the side to 50 victories in 57 matches and played 94 tests in total.
* Named the IRB's Player of the Year for a third time. Also New Zealand's Sportman Of The Year.
FUTURE
* Misses the start to the Crusaders' 2011 Super rugby season after undergoing surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot and his return is hampered by a bruised foot and a head knock.
* May 25, re-commits to NZRU until 2015, one week after the NZRU announced the securing of flyhalf Daniel Carter on a four-year contract.
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