New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key has made his own knighthood “captain’s pick” after offering the title of ‘Sir’ to All Blacks outgoing captain Richie McCaw.

The prime minister confirmed on Monday morning the record-breaking loose forward had been offered the title, according to the New Zealand Herald.

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McCaw turned down a similar offer once before when he led New Zealand to its home Rugby World Cup win in 2011.

However Mr Key told New Zealand TV network TV3 the star had another chance to become a knight of the British Empire.

“Whether he would take one [a knighthood], I don’t know. The offer was there before and I can’t imagine anything has changed,” he said.

“As an athlete, you’ve got to say this guy is a freak.”

Mr Key also said that McCaw should consider a career in politics once he plays his final match at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Britain, starting in September.

“He’s articulate, he’s an intelligent guy, there’s a range of things he could do. I don’t know if politics is one of those options. He has a lot of business interests and I’d think he’d pursue one of those.”

If he accepts the knighthood the 142 cap veteran will become the eighteenth sporting Kiwi to receive the honour, behind the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee (Cricket), Sir Edmund Hillary (Mountaineering) and Dame Lois Muir (Netball).