All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is expected to announce his retirement from rugby in Wellington on Thursday.

New Zealand Rugby announced the veteran flanker will attend a press conference just after midday in which he is likely to confirm long-held speculation that he will hang up his boots.

McCaw, 34, holds the world record of 148 Test caps, the most recent being the Rugby World Cup final defeat of Australia at Twickenham.

He became the first player to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup for a second time, having led New Zealand to victory in 2011.