Rugby fans were left stunned yesterday when a series of fake stories on social media platform X claimed that legendary All Blacks captain Richie McCaw had died in a helicopter crash.
The fabricated news report stated: “McCaw, the esteemed New Zealand rugby legend, tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in Ireland on July 31, 2024. The news of his sudden death has shocked and saddened the global rugby community and his countless fans around the world.”
We are pleased to confirm that these reports are completely false, and the 43-year-old McCaw is alive and well.
In the wake of the fake news, fans expressed their confusion and concern. One fan wrote: “Did Richie McCaw really die in a helicopter crash yesterday??”
Another commented: “Rumours that Richie McCaw died but they’re all from unconfirmed sources. Had they been true, a major news source would’ve confirmed it by now, so I think it’s fake news.”
FAKE NEWS:
A third fan added: “I’m not surprised about the fake Richie McCaw death news. Doesn’t surprise me that he cheats death as well.”
A fourth remarked: “There were rumours about Richie McCaw in a helicopter crash. But it must be fake news or my timeline would have exploded.”
RICHIE MCCAW DREAM TEAM:
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Christian Cullen (New Zeland)
- 14. Julian Savea (New Zealand)
- 11. Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
McCawon Lomu: “When I first became an All Black he was in the team. To play alongside a guy you have watched as a young fella was pretty amazing. He made me look silly in training more than once.
“He is one of the absolute superstars of rugby. If you go to somewhere where rugby is perhaps not well known then the one guy they do know is Jonah. It’s really sad that he’s passed away at age 40. He was a legend of the All Blacks and a legend of rugby.”
CENTRES:
- 13. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
- 12. Jonny Wilkinson (England)
McCaw on Wilkinson: “He’ll go down as one of the greats of world rugby.”
HALFBACKS:
- 10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
- 9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
McCaw on Carter: “There are a lot of good players but the guys who did it for a long time and that I’ve been lucky to play with is Dan Carter. In the final, he was sensational and he’s been great for a long time. So to be able to play with him for the years I’ve been playing was pretty cool.”