Richie McCaw admits the King’s Coronation dress code had him STUMPED as he represented New Zealand

When Richie McCaw landed back in New Zealand Monday morning, jet-lagged from the 23-hour flight, his phone was flooded with messages. “Did we just see you on TV?” friends and family asked after his surprise role in the king’s coronation.

McCaw was at the front of the procession when Charles III arrived at Westminster Abbey and recalled, “People probably looked at their television and thought, ‘What the hell is he doing there?'”

In response to their question, the former All Black captain told Mail Sport: ‘With New Zealand being part of the Commonwealth, I was lucky enough to receive the Order of New Zealand in 2016. Zeeland, and I was part of that delegation that was asked to go to the coronation.

“A few months ago they asked if I wanted to come along and I thought, ‘You’re not rejecting the king’s coronation.’ It wasn’t until much later that they told me I had to be at a rehearsal on Thursday. I thought, ‘What should I rehearse for?’ It didn’t click until I landed.

‘Man, I mixed it with men from the Victoria Cross, Lord Coe. I didn’t tell anyone at home, so they were as surprised as everyone else when they saw me running before the king!’

McCaw (right) represented New Zealand at the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey

McCaw, one of rugby’s most iconic players, has trained as a helicopter pilot in Christchurch since retiring from rugby. But last weekend he was back in the spotlight, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron.

“All the heads of state were floating around and I thought, ‘That’s the French president, that’s the British prime minister,'” the 42-year-old said. ‘All these guys floated across the room and then there’s me, a bloody New Zealand rugby player!

‘The songs and stuff are a bit strange to Kiwis, but the British do that really well. It was pretty amazing to hear. I have kept my invitation and program from the Church. They had printed your name in the order of service, which was pretty cool. I’ll hold them for a long time and show them around.

“I was pinching myself, really. From my upbringing in the middle of New Zealand, my grandfather fought during the war and always talked about the monarchy. They’d be blown away if they saw me at the king’s coronation a generation later.”

McCaw has also trained as a helicopter pilot in New Zealand since he retired from playing

McCaw admitted he was thinking about waving to former England player and Royal member Mike Tindall (centre).

Not one for pomp and circumstance, he admitted he was stunned by the dress code: “I have the dress code about morning suits. I actually had to google what it meant.

“I thought the chances of me wearing it again were pretty slim, so I just went and rented one. A job from the job. It’s a little easier to get suits now that I’m retired, a little easier to find the right fit now that I’ve lost a little bit.

“I was quite glad I got a good suit, because everyone else in the precession was sitting there in their regalia!”

McCaw wasn’t the only retired rugby player on the service, with Mike Tindall joining his wife, Princess Anne’s daughter Zara.

“I thought of waving at him from the back of the cheap seats!” joked McCaw. “I was looking for him when I came in, but couldn’t clock him. I’m sure I’ll overtake him again at the World Cup… we haven’t placed any bets yet, but there’s still time! I’ll see how the All Blacks do in the Rugby Champ first!’