To the rescue.
Dan Carter must have thought his time at the elite level of rugby was at an end.
Sure, he won the Top League with Kobe Steelers and was voted M.V.P but club rugby in Japan does not have that same cut, thrust and premier class as, say, the Champions Cup.
Carter is transitioning to the next stage of his rugby career and was on Sky Sport commentary duty, in New Zealand, for the meeting of Blues and his old club, Crusaders. He even got to catch up with his old Racing mucker Ronan O’Gara (Crusaders assistant coach).
However, Carter’s rugby journey is now bringing him back to Europe.
The All Blacks legend has answered the call of his former club, Racing 92, and will play for them for the remainder of the season. On his Instagram account, Carter wrote:
‘Excited to be joining my Ciel et Blanc brothers for the remainder of the Top 14 Season in France. I’m coming back mid season as a Medical Joker.
‘It was very sad to hear about Pat Lambie’s decision to retire as he has done so much for international rugby. Thank you to my family for their continued support, and thank you to Racing 92 for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting back on the pitch!’
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuBAth7AZTK/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=9kc9iz9dmi36
Carter will take the place of Pat Lambie in the Racing squad after the South African was forced to retire at the age of 28 due to concussion.
The Kiwi will now link up with the Parisians for the Top 14 campaign and the club will surely register him for their Champions Cup squad. The move means Carter will now be teammates with two Ireland internationals, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo.
Racing have Toulouse in the last eight of the Champions Cup, at La Defense Arena. Both sides faced off in league action on Sunday evening with Toulouse coming out on top.
It was a tough night at the office for Zebo, who played right wing. He made only two carries, for six metres, and missed three of his attempted tackles. Ryan did not feature in the matchday 23.
