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McCaw in 2015, photo by sportsphotographer.eu /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Richard Hugh McCaw
Place of Birth: Oamaru, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 31 December, 1980
Ethnicity: Scottish, English
Richie McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker and number 8, he played for and captained Canterbury and Crusaders, as well as the New Zealand national team/the All Blacks . He captained the All Blacks in 110 out of his 148 test matches. He has held the record for most capped test rugby player of all time.
Richie is married to field hockey player Gemma Flynn, with whom he has three children.
Richie’s patrilineal line can be traced to his great-great-great-grandfather, Alexander McCaw, a farmer, who was born January 1, 1808 in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1877, and to his wife, Hughina Mclachlan (the daughter of Hugh Mclachlan and Sarah McLymont), who was born January 15, 1824, in St. Andrew, Jamaica.
Richie’s paternal grandfather was James Hugh McCaw (the son of Alexander Cartwright McCaw and Marjorie Gertrude Field). James was born in Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand, and was a Flight Lieutenant of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II. Alexander was the son of Alexander McCaw, who was born in Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire, Scotland, and of Sarah Annette Seth-Smith, who was English, from London. Marjorie was the daughter of James Strickland Field and Gertrude Brodrick, whose own parents were from Yorkshire, England.
Richie’s paternal grandmother was Catherine Margaret McLeod (the daughter of John Trotter and Isabel Minnie McLeod). John was the son of Robert William Trotter, from Ross-shire, Scotland, and of Catherine Jane Ramsay, whose parents were from Sandwick, Shetland, Scotland. Isabel was the daughter of Peter George McLeod, who was from Islay, Scotland, and of Margaret Cornwall Muir, whose parents were Scottish, her father from Glenluce and her mother from Minnigaff.
Richie’s maternal grandfather was Hubert Brand “Hughie” McLay (the son of Robert Aitken McLay and Agnes Turner Brand). Hubert was born in Ashburton, Ashburton District, Canterbury, New Zealand. Robert was the son of Scottish parents, James McLay, from Strathblane, Stirlingshire, and Margaret McOnie, from Crofsburn, Stirlingshire.
Richie’s maternal grandmother was Ivy Holliday (the daughter of John Holliday and Gladys Margaret Smith). Ivy was born in Temuka, Timaru District, Canterbury, New Zealand, to English parents, from Allerdale Borough, Cumbria, who moved to New Zealand in 1926. John was born in Kirkbride, the son of Joseph Holliday and Sarah Ann/Anne Johnston. Gladys was born in Kirkbampton, the daughter of John Smith and Jane Nicholson.
Sources: Genealogy of Richie McCaw (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com
Record of Richie’s paternal great-great-great-grandmother, Hughina Mclachlan – https://familysearch.org
Richie’s Scottish ancestry – http://www.glasgowfamilyhistory.org.uk
Family history of Richie McCaw – http://m.nzherald.co.nz
Genealogies of Richie’s maternal grandparents, Hubert Brand “Hughie” McLay and Ivy (Holliday) McLay – https://www.findagrave.com