WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw made a low-key return to action from a self-imposed sabbatical on Saturday, but remained unsure whether he would play any Super Rugby this season.

The 32-year-old had invoked a clause in his New Zealand Rugby Union contract to take a break from the sport and had not played a match since the All Blacks lost to England in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham last December.

On Saturday, there were about 80,000 fewer fans in attendance, as the openside flanker helped his local side Christchurch to a 22-5 victory over University in a regional club competition.

McCaw, who had used his break to travel, began training by himself in May before he returned to his Super Rugby side, the Canterbury Crusaders, but refused to state whether he would be available for the Crusaders in the play-offs which start next week.