Richie tops New Year's guest poll

All Black Richie McCaw. Photo / Dean Purcell

Richie McCaw has long been considered rugby royalty and it now seems we would rather party with the All Black captain than our future king.

McCaw, who turns 33 today, topped a Herald-DigiPoll survey asking who would New Zealanders invite to a New Year's Eve party as a guest of honour.

The World Cup-winning skipper, who famously turned down a knighthood and an invite to the royal wedding, got 28 per cent of the vote, edging the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, who picked up 26.4 per cent.

Handsome, down to earth and charming, they received a combined total of nearly 55 per cent.

But Rachel Glucina, who keeps close tabs on the Auckland social scene in The Diary, would much rather mingle with their better halves.

In McCaw's case, that would be his long-term [All Black] partner - Dan Carter.

"Richie is the loveliest guy, very polite and people want him at their parties because he's a star," said Glucina.

"But I couldn't think of anyone worse; he'd have one beer and be the wallflower in the corner.

"I'd much rather have Dan Carter, he likes to party and he'd bring [wife] Honor too."

Nigella Lawson was third on the list with 17.7 per cent. But Glucina said it was hard to tell whether people wanted her because of her cooking skills or "extra-curricular activities".

The celebrity chef has made headlines around the world with revelations in a fraud trial that she had taken cocaine during difficult times in her life.

Singing superstar Lorde received 10.8 per cent of the vote, followed by Prime Minister John Key on 6.8 per cent, then Man Booker prize-winning author Eleanor Catton on 6.6 per cent.