Inside Gemma and Richie's romantic birthday date night

She’s in the middle of a rigorous training regime preparing for the Rio Olympics, but Richie McCaw couldn’t let his fiancee Gemma Flynn’s 26th birthday pass without a treat or two.

Holding hands on their date night. / Supplied 

The retired All Blacks skipper, 35, took the gorgeous blonde to hip inner-city Japanese restaurant Ebisu at Auckland's Britomart last night.

The high-profile couple strolled into town from the plush city apartment they are renting while Gemma’s Black Sticks hockey team are based in Auckland.

Birthday girl Gemma - who with 169 national caps has even more than record breaker Richie on 148 - swapped her shorts, singlet and sneakers work wear for a slinky black dress, daringly slashed to the hip, a black leather jacket and nude ankle boots.

Richie and Gemma head out to a private dinner at Ebisu. / Supplied

The bride-to-be flashed plenty of taut, toned leg as she strolled to the restaurant with her man; her sexy black cocktail dress opening widely with every step she took.

 

Sexy split. / Supplied

Richie, wearing jeans, a checked shirt, sweater and wry grin looked pleased as punch to enjoy the celebratory night with his birthday girl.

The couple laughed and smiled at each other as they walked along the street, clearly happy in each other's company.At the restaurant - a favourite among Auckland's glitterati - Gemma and Richie chowed down and chatted about their day.
Fellow diners said the couple had plenty to laugh and joke about at their table for two.
“Richie allowed himself a glass or two of wine, but I think Gemma stuck to water,” said one guest.

They celebrated Gemma's 26th birthday. / Supplied

“They seemed very animated and having fun, but I didn’t see any birthday presents handed over, so perhaps they’d done that earlier.”

 

A birthday dinner. / Supplied

But a healthy Japanese dinner wasn’t quite enough for the lovebirds on this special night.

Gemma said in an interview how her beefcake fiance "doesn’t want anyone to go hungry” at their forthcoming wedding, and he was clearly keen for his girlfriend not to go to bed on an empty stomach.

They walked to the neighbouring Movenpick icecream shop on the waterfront and bought a well-stacked cone for each to scoff while they ambled slowly back to their temporary home.

Ice-cream date at Movenpick. / Supplied

It was a sweet end to a sweet, fun-filled, celebratory night.

Gemma said in her interview that the sporting heroes “don’t live any differently to anyone else in New Zealand. We still do the exact same things and enjoy ther small things in life as well,” she said.

That rang true when, before reaching their apartment, they called into their local Countdown supermarket for breakfast supplies, happy to mingle with the crowds despite turning heads at the checkout queue.

They walked home to their rented Auckland apartment after a trip to the supermarket. / Supplied

“They were hand in hand as they walked up the hill home with their shopping bags,” said one onlooker.

“It’s obviously a real lovematch for them and that’s why the whole country will be fascinated to see them marry and raise a family.”