Tauranga hockey star Gemma Flynn and former All Black's skipper Richie McCaw are planning to walk down the aisle.

McCaw, 35, announced his engagement to the 25-year-old Black Stick's player on his Facebook page last night.

Tauranga hockey star Gemma Flynn and former All Black's skipper Richie McCaw are engaged. Photo: Twitter

The post read: 'Happy New Year to everyone. I've had a fantastic start to 2016 and feel very lucky. Gemma said: 'Yes'! It's been great celebrating our engagement with friends and family in sunny central Otago. Here's to a great year ahead.”

Fans were quick to post their congratulations to the newly-engaged couple, with some girls upset McCaw was officially off the market, and others offering their congratulations and wedding celebrant services.

'Gemma is the luckiest woman on the planet...congrats to you both,” says one fan.

Another fan posts: 'Oh Richie congratulations to you and Gemma you must both be over the moon. All us mums with eligible daughters are gutted, but also happy for you both. You're a great looking couple and I'm sure your families are excited for you both too.”

The post now has more than 100000 likes and has been shared almost 3000 times.

Flynn's teammates, the Black Sticks' also congratulated the happy couple on Twitter: 'A huge congratulations to @GemmaFlynn22 and @AllBlacks legend Richie McCaw who got engaged over the New Year break”.

A huge congrats to @GemmaFlynn22 and @AllBlacks legend Richie McCaw who got engaged over the New Year break! pic.twitter.com/mwG74BBYK2

— Black Sticks (@BlackSticks) January 12, 2016

Two photographs accompany the post of McCaw and Flynn, including a photo of the pair with their arms around each other and the diamond ring glistening on Flynn's finger.

Another image pictured McCaw and Flynn celebrating the engagement with friends and family.

The couple's family is remaining tight-lipped on the engagement for now.

The engagement comes as more good news to what has already been a good start to 2016 for McCaw.

After leading the All Blacks to victory in two consecutive Rugby World Cups, McCaw made the New Year Honours List 2016.

McCaw received the highest form of recognition in the 2016 New Year Honours with an appointment to the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) on his 35th birthday on December 31.

He is the youngest person to be appointed a member of the order.

His long-time girlfriend Flynn is a current member of the Black Sticks New Zealand women's hockey team, making her debut in 2008, and with 168 appearances under her belt.

The couple have been dating since 2013.