Carter makes return in blue

Wellington – Two-time All Black World Cup-winner Dan Carter (above) announced a shock Super Rugby comeback with the Blues yesterday at the age of 38, saying he realised during coronavirus lockdown how much he missed the game.

Carter, a three-time World Player-of-the-Year, has been a free agent since returning to New Zealand in March from Japan, where a virus-enforced shutdown ended his lucrative stint with Kobe Steelers.

“Two things from the lockdown that I realised was that I really enjoyed spending more time with my family and that I miss rugby,” Carter said.

“For me it is a chance to mentor some young players and to give back to New Zealand rugby,” he added.

The signing comes as New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams prepare to start a domestic tournament next week, after Covid-19 halted the southern hemisphere championship in March.

Carter has not played in his homeland since his international retirement in 2015, when he helped the All Blacks seal back-toback World Cup titles at Twickenham.

Blues head coach Leon MacDonald said Carter signed a shortterm deal as cover for injured fullback Stephen Perofeta. He joins a squad already containing Beauden Barrett, his successor as All Blacks playmaker.

As a replacement player, Carter will reportedly be on a minimum contract worth $1 155 a week, a huge cut from the millions he earned playing club rugby in France and Japan.

As the Blues already have Barrett – himself a two-time World Player-of-the-Year – Carter may fill the role of supersub off the bench.

“I have not played for several months so it will take me a little bit of time to get game-ready,” he said.

Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry had no doubt Carter still had the ability to play at the top level, despite his age.

“It’s marvellous, he’ll add a huge amount of experience but he’s also been playing very well in Japan,” Henry told Radio New Zealand. – AFP