Blaze of glory for Carter
It took seven years, but All Blacks great Dan Carter was finally able to collect his Southbridge blazer.
The 38-year-old played his first game in New Zealand since 2015 on Saturday, starring for boyhood club Southbridge in their 54-14 thumping ofwest Melton in Canterbury’s Ellesmere competition.
Carter got through the full 80 minutes, contributing 12 points off the boot (six of seven conversions), as he eyes a return to Super Rugby Aotearoa for the Blues.
With the Blues on their bye week, Auckland-based Carter returned home for some muchneeded game time, impressing in front of about 1500 onlookers at the Southbridge Domain.
Carter was made a Southbridge Rugby Club honorary life member in 2013 after bringing up his 100th test for the All Blacks against England.
Seven years on, he collected his club blazer in the clubrooms following Saturday’s game.
It was a special moment for Carter with father Neville, who is a Southbridge life member and played 300 games for the club, making the presentation.
‘‘Very proud, yes. It was a very special moment for the club to recognise the service he’s done for them over the years – not only promoting the game, but promoting the township of Southbridge,’’ Neville Carter told Stuff.
Carter last donned Southbridge’s blue-and-white hoops in 2014 and was humbled to make a rare appearance in club rugby.
It is expected to just be a oneoff club cameo and possibly his last game for Southbridge, who he first played for as a five-year-old.
‘‘How good is club footy?’’ Carter told One News in his acceptance speech.
‘‘I absolutely love it, grassroots rugby.
‘‘As professional rugby players and sportspeople, we love to be able to give back. Unfortunately with our busy schedules we don’t get all that many opportunities.’’
Carter, who played 141 games for the Crusaders between 2013-15, will be in Christchurch on Saturday when the Blues meet his former side in a mouth-watering top of the table clash.
He might only be there in a mentoring capacity and to sign autographs, though. The Blues are sitting pretty with three wins from three in the competition and head coach Leon Macdonald could be reluctant to make many changes or rush Carter back.
Carter has barely played in the past 18 months after undergoing neck surgery in 2019. There was little sign of rust against West Melton with the 112-test All Black having a hand in several tries.
His performance got the seal of approval from his proud dad, who quipped, ‘‘you’ve got 296 [games] to catch up’’ to his Southbridge mark.
‘‘I think he went out there and had some fun and that’s what it’s about,’’ Neville said.