Richie McCaw lifts the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Ron Burgin
The Queen has sent a message of congratulations to the All Blacks after they ended a 24-year-wait to regain the Rugby World Cup.
The team made it to a hard-fought victory over France in the World Cup final in Auckland, taking back the Webb Ellis Trophy.
France knocked New Zealand
out of the 1999 and 2007 World Cups but the hosts held out to gain revenge, beating them 8-7.
The Queen, who is currently with the Duke of Edinburgh in Canberra as part of her tour of Australia, sent her own message of congratulations to the team.
Captain Richie McCaw spoke of his pride on Sunday, telling television cameras: "It's hard to let it sink in. I'm proud of every single one of the guys. We couldn't have been under more pressure at times but we stuck to our guns and got there in the end."
