The All Blacks great did it all during his 148 tests, leading his side to two Rugby World Cups and earning three World Rugby player of the year accolades.
Since hanging up the rugby boots in 2015, McCaw has turned his hand to adventure racing, competing in the Coast to Coast and pushing himself to his limits in four Godzone events.
He is even part of the Pure Adventure Charitable Trust pushing for the return of Godzone within the next 12 months, after a two-year hiatus.
If that is not enough, McCaw, who recently moved to Wanaka with wife Gemma and their family, is a pretty handy helicopter pilot.
But maybe golf is not at the top of his list.
McCaw is in Arrowtown this week at the New Zealand Open, lining up in the pro-am as one of the tournament’s ambassadors.
After visiting the Open as a spectator through the years, McCaw admitted teeing off would be a little different.
"I’m not a great golfer, to be fair," McCaw told the Otago Daily Times.
"I just want to get away with your reputation kind of intact.
"The format’s a wee bit more forgiving. If you have a bad hole, it doesn’t matter so much — you can still contribute.
"Just standing on that first tee box, [where] a few people could be watching, you just want to make sure you get a good connection."
McCaw has still found time to catch up on Super Rugby Pacific, watching his beloved Crusaders and the Highlanders’ brilliant win over the Blues last week.
"That got pretty exciting. The Highlanders hanging on — that’s pretty cool."
Highlanders fullback Finn Hurley has been the name on everyone’s lips after his impressive performance last week — "he scored an awesome try, he left that guy standing still" — and McCaw was impressed, even if he had to brush up on some of the rising talent.
"There’s all sorts of names that you don’t know too much about.
"It’s amazing how fast you sort of go ‘who’s that?’
"You always wonder where all this talent comes from. We’re pretty lucky in New Zealand. It just keeps coming."
Super Rugby has started with a buzz this season and McCaw felt there had been some good rugby played already.
"I think it’s important that you have a positive outlook.
"There was some good rugby, good tries scored and games were tight — that’s what you want.
"It’s easy to pick at all the things that might not be quite right, but from what I can see, people I’ve been talking to that know a bit, they’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed it.
"Let’s hope it carries on like that. I think it’s been a good start."
