Thursday 18 December 2014 19:46, UK
New Zealand legend Dan Carter will join French Top 14 club Racing Metro after next year's Rugby World Cup.
The 32-year-old, the highest points scorer in Test rugby history, has signed a three-year deal with the Paris-based club.
"It’s going to be an awesome adventure for me and my family," said Carter, widely regarded as one of the best fly-halves in the history of the sport.
"Having visited France many times, including my time with Perpignan, I know what the French culture and their rugby culture is like and it’s something I really love.
"But having said that, it’s the immediate future that is exciting me at the moment. Next year is going to be a big year and I’m looking forward to it, firstly with the Crusaders and then hopefully with the All Blacks.
"My body is feeling really good, I’m training really hard and getting some good conditioning in so I can hit the ground running next year. I’m looking forward to getting out and playing some good footy.”
Carter's stellar career has been increasingly hampered by injury in recent years, with a ruptured Achilles tendon during a short stint with Perpignan in 2008 and a broken leg during last season's Super Rugby final among his most serious problems.
The 2005 and 2012 IRB World Player of the Year has played 102 Tests for New Zealand, one of just five All Blacks players to have reached the milestone, and he has a World Cup winner's medal from his side's 2011 triumph.
But Carter limped out of the tournament in the group stages with a groin strain, with Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade taking over the duties at fly-half for the rest of the tournament.
Carter - who is also the highest points scorer in Super Rugby history - was a member of the All Blacks squad which fell short at the 2003 and 2007 tournaments.
To know it's coming to an end is pretty emotional but exciting at the same time.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has insisted that a fully-fit Carter is his first-choice fly-half, but Cruden and Beauden Barrett were preferred for the biggest matches of New Zealand's recent northern hemisphere tour with Carter appearing against the USA and Scotland on his return from a sabbatical.
"Next year will be my 13th year playing professional rugby in New Zealand which is a long time," added Carter, who made his Test debut in 2003.
"I want to play rugby for as long as I can and I just thought it would be challenging to continue to play in New Zealand after 2015 so that's why I explored my options.
"I'm looking for a change and I'm confident that will give me some longevity in my career and I'll be able to play another three, four, five years.
"This is all I've known for the last 12 years. The All Black jersey and playing here means a lot to me and that's why I've re-signed on a few occasions. To know it's coming to an end is pretty emotional but exciting at the same time. I wanted to sort out my future nice and early so I can put all that behind me and concentrate on the exciting year ahead."
Carter will replace Jonathan Sexton in Racing Metro's No. 10 jersey, with the Ireland star set to return to Leinster.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said Carter's loyalty to the All Blacks - after their desperately disappointing quarter-final exit at the hands of France at the 2007 World Cup - helped lay the foundations for their victory on home soil in 2011.
"Dan has been incredibly loyal to New Zealand Rugby over the years and for that we thank him," Tew said.
"That decision by Dan and other senior players to re-sign with New Zealand rugby after 2007 should not be underestimated."
