Bill McCaw

This article is about the rugby player. For the American football player, see Bill McCaw (American football).

Bill McCaw

McCaw c. 1951
Birth name	William Alexander McCaw
Date of birth	(1927-08-26)26 August 1927
Place of birth	Gore, New Zealand
Date of death	6 May 2025(2025-05-06) (aged 97)
Place of death	Christchurch, New Zealand
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	90 kg (200 lb)
School	St. Kevin's College, Oamaru
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8 Flanker Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1949–55 Southland 50 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1951–54 New Zealand 5 (0)

William Alexander McCaw (26 August 1927 – 6 May 2025) was a New Zealand international rugby union player. He was a member of the All Blacks in 1951 and in 1953–54, playing in the number 8 and flanker positions.

Early life

McCaw was born in Gore and educated at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru where he played rugby for the school.

Senior rugby

McCaw played for the Marist club and represented Southland from 1949 until 1955. He played for the South Island team in the years 1950–54 and was a New Zealand trialist in 1950, 1951 and 1953 and 1957. He played in a New Zealand XV in 1952 and 1954–55.

All Black

McCaw was selected for the All Blacks in 1951. He played against in the 1951 tour of Australia and played in all three tests. He could not play because of injury in 1952. In 1953 he was selected again and participated in the 1953–1954 British tour. He played in 22 of 36 matches including the Welsh and French tests. He was captain of the All Blacks in the game against North of Scotland. In all McCaw played 32 matches for the All Blacks, 5 of them were tests. He gained 18 points for New Zealand (6 tries).

With the death of Roy Roper in 2023, McCaw became the oldest living All Black. McCaw died in Christchurch on 6 May 2025, at the age of 97.