30 October 2001 Richard McCaw – proudly Lincoln's

Wilson Whineray, Kel Tremain, Andy Dalton, John Hotop, John Buxton, Denis Cameron, Duncan Hales, Ian Hurst, Hamish McDonald, Jeff Matheson, Andy Jefferd, Bret Codlin, Craig Green, Robbie Deans, Bruce Deans, Albert Anderson, Scott Roberston, Greg Somerville – Lincoln University is proud of its pantheon of All Blacks and is following the fortunes of rising young Canterbury star Richard McCaw with interest. Will he be Lincoln University's next All Black?

Richard, from the Hakataramea Valley, South Canterbury, and a Cantabrian by birth, attended Otago Boys' High School in Dunedin and in 1996 and 1998 achieved Otago provincial representative honours at Under-16 and Under-18 levels. He was also a South Island representative while still at school.

Coming to Lincoln University in 1999 to study for a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree he was awarded both a Scholarship for Excellence and a Rugby Scholarship. He opted to hold the Excellence Scholarship but has retained close links with the Rugby Scholarship programme.

An openside flanker, in his first year at Lincoln he was selected for the New Zealand Under-19 team to travel to Wales for the World Under-19 Championship. On this, his first overseas tour, he played in both the semi-final against Ireland and the final against Wales, which New Zealand won 25-0 to take the world title.

In 2000 he played for Canterbury Colts, made the Canterbury NPC squad, captained the Canterbury Under-21 team and played for New Zealand Under-21's in the Under-21 Southern Hemisphere Tournament in Auckland.

Last year he was also awarded a Lincoln University sports blue for rugby.

This year he was again a member of the New Zealand Under-21 team for the Southern Hemisphere Tournament, hosted this year by Australia, and he captained the team to victory in the final in the place of an injured Aaron Mauger.

On the home scene in 2001 he has played for the Canterbury Crusaders, Canterbury's NPC team and was also named Lincoln University's Sportsperson of the Year, receiving the award from last year's winner, Canterbury Crusader, NPC player, All Black and fellow flanker Scott Robertson.

 Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.