All Blacks: Four more years for McCaw

Richie McCaw is putting the All Black jersey before the bank account which will still contain a tidy sum. Photo / Getty Images

Richie McCaw, the multi-decorated All Black captain, will sign on for another four-year deal today, joining his celebrated teammate Daniel Carter in pledging his extended allegiance to the black jersey.

Openside flanker McCaw has played 94 tests and one other match against the Barbarians at Twickenham in 2009. He is the longest-serving All Black captain, leading the side into test combat 57 times with just seven defeats.

His contribution has been immense and Sean Fitzpatrick, in his book Winning Ways which will be published next month, wishes he'd had the privilege of playing alongside McCaw. The flanker epitomised what was good about All Black rugby.

"It is not about avoiding confrontation or shying away from adversity. It is about creation, fierce and focused. It is about meeting challenge head-on, about winning," Fitzpatrick says.

McCaw is the current New Zealand Sportsman of the Year and has won the IRB's player of the year award three times in the past five years.

He has said, repeatedly, that he is not interested in chasing an overseas deal and wants to finish out his playing days in New Zealand.

His contract is understood to have a number of clauses which would allow him time off or an ability to ease out of the All Blacks while playing Super or provincial rugby.

"I've made no secret that the reason I want to stay and look to stay, is if I'm enjoying it," McCaw said recently.

McCaw does not have the multi-sponsorship deals which boost Carter's income but his annual income is likely to rival the five eighth at about $1.5 million from his portfolio and weighting his responsibilities as All Black captain.

"If it's just what goes into your bank account, I think no matter what job you did, if that was the case it doesn't last that long. I think the All Black jersey, as Dan said, is a big carrot," he said.

McCaw had no problem with NZRU regulations which stated that players wanting to be All Blacks had to be playing their rugby in New Zealand.

Meanwhile his teammate at the last two World Cups, 27-year-old wing Joe Rokocoko, has announced he will play for Bayonne where he will join Neemia Tialata and Sione Lauaki after this year's global event.

Rokocoko has scored 46 tries in 68 tests but is locked in a tight battle to make another World Cup before he departs.

"I first played for the Blues and then the All Blacks as a teenager eight years ago and along with Auckland, they have been my rugby family ever since," he said."I am truly blessed to have had such an amazing rugby career in New Zealand." Rokocoko has scored 40 tries for the Blues in 91 matches since his 2003 debut.