All Blacks legend Dan Carter announces retirement from rugby
Daniel Carter, after 19 professional seasons and just a few weeks short of turning 39, has announced his retirement from all rugby.
The man many would say is the greatest No 10 to have played the game, after winning 112 test caps for the All Blacks in which time he became the most prolific points scorer in the history of rugby, says his body could push on for another few years, but his mind has checked out.
Having won Super Rugby titles, Rugby Championships, World Cups, the French Top 14, Heineken Cup and Japanese Top League, Carter felt he’d won everything he could in the game and had nothing left to prove.
He says that after a brief stint with the Blues last year – which came after he had three years in France with Racing 92 in Paris and then two-and-a-bit seasons with Kobe Steelers in Japan – he realised he no longer had the motivation to push himself as hard as he would need to be competitive in New Zealand.
And with too much uncertainty about travelling in and out of New Zealand, he lost interest late last year in playing overseas, so he decided it was time to retire and spend more time with his three children, with a fourth on the way.
At the heart of his decision was a realisation about who he really is and why he was playing. Even at 38, Carter came to see that his desire to play was driven by a need to play at his best and be part of a winning team. He couldn’t turn up just for the pay cheque, something he suspected he would be in danger of doing if he carried on playing.
“After experiencing rugby in Japan I thought I could squeeze a few more years out of my body,” he says. “There was something really enjoyable about being part of that environment and the culture we had at the Kobe Steelers. I was playing rugby and enjoying it and wasn’t sure when I would stop.
“I got forced back by Covid in March and was gutted about that. I was coming off contract and I guess the frustrations of not being able to finish the Japanese season and then going to the Blues for a little bit, I loved that. 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.
“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.
“That kind of made me ask whether I wanted to play in New Zealand or not. I was looking for new contracts because I thought that was a way to provide for my family. When I realised the age my kids are and the amount of work Honor [Carter’s wife] was doing looking after them while I was away chasing my dream, it made me realise it was time to stop. The more I took time off the more I realised I didn’t want to play overseas and not having the drive to play here I knew in my mind the time was right.”
The obvious question he had to ask himself as he contemplated retirement, was what next? He’d been a professional player since 2002 and rugby is all he has known in his adult life.
As one of the best tacticians the game has known and a supremely good technical kicker, he has had offers to move into coaching but says that is not for him.
Top League chairman Osamu Ota has joined other leading rugby bosses in throwing support behind the concept of a Club World Cup.https://t.co/XEqXGTEO6N
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Not full-time at least. “Rugby is what I know and love and I feel like I have a lot of knowledge that I would like to share,” he says.
“But my mentality is all about winning and if I got into coaching I would be all in and I would commit to that. I would work around the clock and I know how hard coaches work. They lose their weekends. They are in before the players, leave after them and work on the days the players are recovering.
“My reasons for retiring are to spend more time with the family. I would love to be involved in some way. Exactly what it is yet I am not sure. But I can’t commit. I like a bit of flexibility and I am working on a few projects that I am passionate about both overseas and in New Zealand.”
In an emotional Instagram post Carter said he had thought about the day he called it quits many times.
“I can’t thank everyone who has played a part in my journey enough – from my team mates, opponents, coaching and management teams, sponsors and in particular you, the fans.
“A special mention to my friends and family who have supported and guided me through my career. Mum and Dad, thank you for everything you have sacrificed for me. My wife Honor for being my rock and allowing me to fulfill my dreams while raising our beautiful family – I can’t thank you enough.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments