Former All Blacks duo Sam Whitelock and Ian Foster have been honoured for their achievements in rugby in the 2025 New Year Honours list.

Foster has been made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) while Whitelock has become an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

Both were handed the honour for their services to rugby while the latter has also been recognised for his work in the community.

Whitelock helped the All Blacks to successive Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, and retired from playing at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Keeping it a secret

The former second-row admitted that after receiving a letter from the Prime Minister and being queried about it by his wife, Hannah, the 36-year-old wanted to keep it a secret until it was officially announced.

“I actually lied through my teeth, which I don’t like doing, and I said: ‘that’s a speeding ticket’,” he told Stuff.

“She kind of looked at me sideways and thought that’s a bit weird. I was a little bit concerned how quickly she believed me when I said I’d been speeding!

“Hopefully it’s a nice surprise for her.”

Whitelock, despite achieving remarkable things in the game, including becoming the most capped All Black of all time, was the epitome of the team man.

As a result, the self-effacing lock was ‘humbled’ when the letter came through telling him that he had become an ONZM.

“I’ve never gone out to try and achieve anything for myself, it’s always been as part of a team. To be recognised as an individual is very humbling,” he said.

“It’s pretty cool to be acknowledged, but at the same time it’s so nice to be able to look at those people and share this with them because there’s no way this would happen without them.”

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Meanwhile, Foster was awarded the even grander CNZM after spending the best part of the past 40 years in New Zealand rugby, firstly as a player before becoming a coach.

He took charge of the Chiefs in Super Rugby in 2004 before he joined the All Blacks under Sir Steve Hansen in 2012, playing a role in their 2015 World Cup triumph.

Foster then took on the head coach position after Hansen departed in 2019 and led them to the final of the 2023 global tournament where they lost to the Springboks.

‘Incredibly grateful’

“It’s always for other people, isn’t it? It’s never for you,” the 59-year-old told Newstalk ZB. “But upon a little bit of reflection, I’m incredibly grateful for the acknowledgment.

“That’s, I guess, for my involvement in rugby, and something I’ve loved. You don’t do it for any acknowledgment, but it’s been pretty special.

“With every layer, there’s special memories. There’s people that have been a massive influence, and people that have helped you along the pathways.

“Every level has its own highs and lows. It was never a written goal to be coach of the All Blacks.

“It was always about enjoying the moment and enjoying the group of people I was with at the time.

“The thing that’s been most special for me is seeing the support I’ve had over the years from family and friends at those different levels.”

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/sam-whitelock-admits-to-lying-through-my-teeth-as-ex-all-blacks-duo-honoured-for-incredible-success-in-rugby