Carter calls upon super-sub Donald for help
All Black cult hero Stephen Donald and his kicking boots return to Eden Park on Friday night.
He will be lining up shots to help out former team-mate Dan Carter’s push for charity; not landing the Rugby World Cup-winning penalty he slotted in 2011 after a gutted Carter was forced out of the tournament with injury.
Carter scored 1598 points for the All Blacks team over 12 years and 112 Tests — and now he has an even loftier goal.
This week Carter will be back at Eden Park to attempt to complete 1598 goal kicks in 24 hours — nonstop.
It is part of a charitable push from his DC-10 Fund, which has teamed with Unicef to raise money to provide clean water and sanitation for children in the Pacific.
A cast of high-profile supporters and potential super-subs will be there to help.
“Stephen Donald will be there and he might have to sub in again if I get injured like I was for the 2011 World Cup,” Carter said.
Other ring-ins include former All Blacks Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina, Olympic sailor Blair Tuke and former Black Ferns star Anna Richards.
“I have been training for seven months, and a couple of days ago I kicked for six hours straight. I managed to kick 800, but I was going at quite a pace,” Carter said.
“I am trying to kick 1598 in 24 hours, which is how many test points I scored for the All Blacks.”
Carter has been a Unicef ambassador for seven years and has seen first-hand the work of the charity overseas such as the Wash project, which provides clean water, sanitation and good hygiene into the Pacific islands.
“This Kickathon links the two things I am passionate about, which is helping children and rugby,” he said.
Carter, dad to Marco, 9, Fox, 6, Rocco, 3, and Cruz, 10 months, said he wanted to level the playing field for other children.
“Clean water is something we take for granted here.
“I see how lucky my family is to live the lives we do but it’s not like that for all children around the world.”
Carter’s sons have helped with his training, collecting kicked balls and setting up balls on kicking tees for more shots at goal.
They will be supporting their dad at the Kickathon which starts at 7pm on Thursday, April 7.
To reach his goal, Carter said he will have to kick a ball over the uprights every minute.
There will be an official keeping score, and the event will be livestreamed.
● Visit dancarter.com/kickathon to watch live or donate.
Supporters can also text “WASH” to 2662 to make an instant $3 donation to Unicef.