All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and girlfriend Gemma Flynn on the red carpet at the Halberg Awards in Auckland on Wednesday night.

Speculation continues to mount around Richie McCaw's future after this year's Rugby World Cup, with ambitious French club Pau the latest to be linked to the All Blacks skipper.

French rugby media are reporting a comment from former national coach Bernard Laporte, now in charge at big-spending Toulon, that he is aware of a deal in front of McCaw from the high-flying second division club, set to join the Top 14 in 2016.

Pau have already snapped up veteran All Blacks centre Conrad Smith - a close friend of McCaw's - to join them once he completes his commitments at this year's World Cup in England, and according to Laporte Pau are not content to stop at one illustrious New Zealand international.

However, Pau vice-president Yannick Le Garreres told The Republic of the Pyrenees newspaper that Laporte's assertion was incorrect.

"Laporte, Laporte, as usual we do not know what he's talking," he said.

It would be a major surprise if McCaw looked to head offshore to conclude his rugby career, with the record-breaking skipper long maintaining that he has no interest in such a move.

McCaw was due to meet with New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew this week to discuss his future, with most tipping him to bow out after the World Cup.

At 34, with 137 tests under his belt already, and established as the most successful captain in the game's history, it is thought he has nothing left to prove.

There could be a temptation to box on for a season or two, perhaps in a limited capacity, but it's thought he will regard his fourth World Cup, and the All Blacks' shot at history, as the ideal stage on which to depart.

McCaw's profile and already established business and commercial interests are such that he is guaranteed a busy and productive life post-rugby.

He is also in a budding relationship with Black Sticks hockey international Gemma Flynn.