All Black Legend Dan Carter Announces His Retirement

Former All Black flyhalf Dan Carter has hung up the boots at the age of 38 after an incredible career that will see him go down as one of the greatest players of all time.

In an interview with NZME, Carter said his time back in New Zealand with the Blues last year convinced him it was time to walk away.

30 seconds of Dan Carter doing Dan Carter things 🔥

One of the all time greats 🙌

pic.twitter.com/H5Woja4c9j

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) February 20, 2021

"I loved being part of the team environment but going through that process it made me realise that I play to be the best player out on the field," Carter said.

"That is my drive and it always has been and I just didn't have that drive back here in New Zealand. I had nothing to prove and nothing to get my motivation levels up to where they should have been to play against all those young bucks here.”

The man has retired after winning 112 test caps for the All Blacks in which time he became the most prolific points scorer in the history of rugby. He won Super Rugby titles, Rugby Championships, World Cups, the French Top 14, Heineken Cup and Japanese Top League.

Carter, who is of pākehā and Māori descent, was born in Leeston, a small town 10 minutes drive from the Carter family home in Southbridge in the South Island of New Zealand.

He attended Ellesmere College where he played mostly at first five-eighth, and then in his final year he transferred to Christchurch Boys High School to further his chances of making it big in rugby.

As the highest points scorer in both Super Rugby and test match rugby, Carter is regarded as one of the world’s best first-fives and is believed by many to be one of rugby’s greatest fly-halves ever. Carter made his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2002 and joined the Crusaders the following season.

He also made his All Blacks debut in 2003, scoring 20 points against Wales in Hamilton and going on to make the 2003 Rugby World Cup squad.

He also played in the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups, although a groin injury kept him out of the 2011 RWC playoffs and saw him miss the early stages of the 2012 Super Rugby season.

He earned his 100th Super Rugby cap for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes during the 2012 season.

In December 2014, Carter announced that he will join Racing 92 in the Top 14 after the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup on a three-year-deal.

Carter helped the All Blacks win their second Rugby World Cup title in England in 2015 with the final being his final test match for the All Blacks.

On 24th June 2016, Carter helped Racing 92 to win the 2016 Top 14 title, securing a 29-21 win against Toulon at Camp Nou, Barcelona scoring 15 points (5 penalties) and being named Man of the Match.

The former Crusaders, Perpignan and current Racing 92 fly-half has been named as the latest inductee into the RPA Hall of Fame.

The all-time leading Test points scorer will join an illustrious list of previous inductees. In an exceptional 14-year career, which has included 112 Test caps, 1,598 Test points, 3 Super Rugby titles, a French Top 14 Title and a winner of the 2015 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 2015.

Carter announced that he would join Japanese side Kobelco Steelers following the conclusion of the 2017/18 season.

The experienced playmaker guided Racing 92 to the semi-finals in the Top14 and the Champions Cup final but unfortunately he suffered an injury in the Champions Cup semi-final was unable to feature for Racing 92 again.

In February 2019, it was confirmed that he would return to Racing 92 through to the end of the season. Carter failed a medical upon before arriving at Racing 92 which stopped his return to the TOP14.

Carter lead Kobe Steelers to the Japanese Top League title in the 2018/19 season and was named MVP of the season. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Top League season, Carter confirmed his departure from the club.

The Blues confirmed the signing of the former All Black for the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season but the veteran did not take the pitch for the Auckland-based side and in February 2021 he announced his retirement from the game at the age of 38.