Saturday, May 13 2006 10:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Wellington: Richie McCaw was Saturday named the new All Blacks rugby captain to succeed the now retired Tana Umaga in the highest-ranking and most scrutinised role in New Zealand sport.

McCaw has been the only heir apparent to Umaga for the past year, and his appointment, by All Blacks coach Graham Henry, had been expected. Henry said McCaw was a world class player who led by example and was the obvious choice to replace the popular Umaga, who announced his retirement in January.

Henry's announcement, made at McCaw's rugby club in Christchurch, came the morning after the champion flanker led his Canterbury Crusaders to a 33-3 defeat of the ACT Brumbies to ensure the top spot going into the Super 14 semi-finals.

The 25-year-old made his All Blacks debut against Ireland in 2001, first captaining the side in Umaga's absence against Wales at Cardiff in 2004.

"It is a huge honour and a privilege," he said after Henry confirmed his permanent elevation to captain.

"I'm pretty excited about what lies ahead, especially (as) my experiences for the last 18 months with the All Blacks have been pretty enjoyable," he said.

"They're a good bunch of guys and having the chance to captain that team is something that I'm looking forward to. I can't wait to get amongst it really," he said.

McCaw said he was aware of the extra pressures of the role but believed he was ready for them.

"When I spoke to Graham and the selectors about it I knew what the story was. They said they had faith in me to do it, so I was excited about being given that opportunity," he said.

McCaw, the All Blacks' 60th captain, is widely regarded as among the premier loose forwards of the modern game.

"It was an obvious choice and that's why it was very hard to keep it a secret," Henry said. "It's important that the captain is a quality player and I think Richie is one of the best No 7s in world rugby," he said.

"I think the ability to lead from the front and be a world class player is important for the rest of the players," he said.

"Tana Umaga was a world class player, guaranteed of selection and Richie just carries on with that sort of philosophy," he said.

Henry said McCaw would lead the side in the first Test of the series against Ireland on June 10 and 'probably' in the second a week later in Auckland.

He will also fly to Argentina for the one-off Test against the Pumas on June 24 at Buenos Aires, even though Henry and the selectors are employing a largely different squad for that match.