McCaw medals stash found by house buyer
RICHIE McCaw left behind a trail of medals and honours when he sold his home last year and they were found by the new owner.
Christchurch wedding celebrant Gillian Smith purchased the rugby legend’s St Albans home in December last year.
After moving in she discovered a the hoard of memorabilia from McCaw’s sporting career.
The objects included an invite to Buckingham Palace, a medal marking a rugby game in Wembley Stadium, a piece of greenstone in a Rugby World Cup 2011 presentation case and a circular object apparently related to Willie Apiata’s Victoria Cross.
Smith confirmed that McCaw had left the objects behind. She said she wanted to return the objects, but declined to comment further.
‘‘I’m going to ring him up and get them back to him,’’ she said.
A photograph sent in by a family friend of Smith showed a handful of objects. The invitation to Buckingham Palace was for an event for players during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The medal is engraved with the message: ‘‘Centenary Match. BARBARIANS v AUSTRALIA. 3rd December 2008. Wembley’’. McCaw played for the Barbarians against Australia in a match at Wembley Stadium to celebrate the centenary of the 1908 Olympic Rugby Final and was the first rugby union match to be played at the new Wembley Stadium.
McCaw did not return calls for comment.