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Dan Carter makes shock New Zealand rugby return as All Blacks legend joins the Blues for Super Rugby Aotearoa

George Flood
·2-min read
Getty Images
Getty Images

All Blacks great Dan Carter has made a surprise return to New Zealand rugby at the age of 38 after joining the Blues.

Rugby union's all-time leading Test point scorer will represent the Auckland outfit as a replacement for the injured Stephen Perofeta in the forthcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa - a 10-week domestic competition being held in lieu of Super Rugby's suspension that will see all five New Zealand franchises go head to head.

Legendary fly-half Carter - a two-time World Cup winner and three-time World Rugby Player of the Year - had been a free agent since leaving Japanese Top League side Kobe Steelers in April after the Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) cancelled the remaining matches in the 2020 season due to coronavirus, and has not seen the field since February.

Prior to that, he had spent three years in France with Racing 92 after retiring from international duty in 2015 following 112 appearances.

Carter, who underwent neck surgery in 2019, has not played club rugby in New Zealand since ending a 12-year stint with the Christchurch-based Crusaders - one that yielded three Super Rugby titles - in 2015.

"Two things from the lockdown that I realised was that I really enjoyed spending more time with my family and that I miss rugby,” said Carter, who lives with his family in Auckland.

“[Blues coach] Leon [MacDonald] is a good mate and we spoke about me helping out. For me it is a chance to mentor some young players and to give back to New Zealand Rugby.

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

View this post on Instagram

Back doing what I love after realising how much I missed rugby over these last few Months. When Leon called me with an opportunity to join the Blues squad as a replacement player it was a tough decision but I’m feeling very grateful to be able to train and potentially play in the same city my family and I are currently living. Also it’s a nice opportunity to give back to NZ rugby by sharing my experience and rugby knowledge to the next generation of young players in the squad. Thanks for your support.

A post shared by Dan Carter (@dancarter_) on Jun 3, 2020 at 7:19pm PDT

“It’s an exciting opportunity to train in the same city that my kids go to school in and my family are currently living.

"It will also be nice to share my experience with some of the young talent they have here at the Blues.”

Carter joins a formidable Blues backline that already includes All Blacks successor Beauden Barrett, New Zealand wing Rieko Ioane and England centre Joe Marchant, who is on loan from Premiership side Harlequins.

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