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All Blacks Sevens star Leroy Carter signs with Super Rugby Pacific club

Leroy Carter of New Zealand celebrates his try during Madrid Rugby Sevens at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on Jun 01, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

HSBC SVNS Series sensation Leroy Carter has left the All Blacks Sevens to pursue an opportunity in Super Rugby Pacific with the Chiefs. Carter has signed a deal with last season’s runners-up that spans until the end of 2026.

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Carter has been a marvel for the All Blacks Sevens for the last couple of seasons, with the 25-year-old receiving a nomination for World Rugby’s Player of the Year honour in 2023. The Kiwi backed that up with consistently strong performances on the Series in 2023/24.

While injuries played Carter’s playing time on the international circuit during an Olympic year, the Tauranga-born talent was on song practically every time he ran onto the rugby sevens field in the coveted black jersey.

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Argentina’s Marcos Moneta, Antoine Dupont from France and Ireland’s Terry Kennedy were all sensational whenever they got the chance to play in the SVNS Series last season. Many would consider that trio, and others, to be in the ‘world’s best’ conversation with Carter.

But a new chapter is waiting to be written in Carter’s storied career. Following New Zealand’s disappointing finish at the Paris Olympic Games, the Bay of Plenty utility back has signed on with the Chiefs for the next two Super Rugby seasons.

“It’s hard leaving a team like the All Blacks Sevens,” Leroy Carter said in a statement.

“It’s a team that I’m grateful for as they have done so much for me, but I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.

“The Chiefs have been a team I have always wanted to play for since I was a young kid so it’s an exciting time for me. I can’t wait to get in and work.”

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Carter may have proven himself as a world-class talent on the SVNS Series but he’s no stranger to the world of 15s, either. The Kiwi played for the New Zealand U20s and New Zealand Barbarians some years ago, and he’s also played in four previous NPC seasons.

The one-time Olympian has gotten his fifth provincial campaign underway with Bay of Plenty after starting on the right wing in the win over North Harbour last weekend. Harbour had the likes of Wallace Sititi, Tane Edmed and Shaun Stevenson playing for them.

Bay of Plenty will look to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive when they take on Otago at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday. Carter has been named to wear the No. 14 jumper once again, with that team boasting genuine star power.

“Leroy has always been a player of immense talent, showcased in recent seasons with the All Blacks Sevens team and Bay of Plenty,” Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said in a statement.

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“We love his competitive edge, abrasive style, and that he is a legitimate hybrid player – comfortable on both the wing or at halfback. We can’t wait for him to get amongst it in Chiefs colours.”

Carter will play the rest of the provincial season with Bay of Plenty before assembling with the Chiefs later this year to prepare for the team’s Super Rugby title push in 2025.

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Comments

2 Comments
E
EatBreath7s 225 days ago

Sad loss for the AB7s, "punched" above his weight on the field, only hope is that he gets lots of game time for the chiefs

B
B.J. Spratt 225 days ago

Super Rugby Pacific is a shit rugby competition, since South African teams have left.


Each week we watch it, half the stands are empty. It's poorly promoted and it loses money faster than " A Mark in a brothel with a fist full of fifties"


Mind you the NZRFU made a loss of $9 million for 2023. That F wit Robinson tries to justify his shocking record as a CEO, with all sorts of flakey Bull Shit, that the Board swallows with great gusto.


Well I can tell you one that doesn't swallow and that is Silver Lake.


One day we all wake up to, NZRFU in liquidation or Silver Lake takes over NZRFU.


Mark Robinson: What part of "Not Fit For Purpose" don't you understand.


D
DS 226 days ago

This is the future of the bench. Reece could do the same at he Crusaders - halfback and back three. The losers might be the second halfback, like Rowe at the Chiefs. Carter will be an interesting watch at the Chiefs.

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JW 2 hours ago
Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

It really all depends of how much overseas players would be paid (by NZR) to play for the All Blacks. I’ve not heard a peep on this front from any author suggesting it’s a good idea.


If it’s nothing (a player gets his weekly paycheck from the club and thats it (which we know is definitely not the case in Ireland and France, or SA even I think?), then maybe it would retain more SR level players given that they’ll be getting the “AB” component (which is about where things stand, Burke for instance would have had to had his Sader contract upgraded to an AB one (think above Pero levels) to be on similar money.


I’d having to imagine if a player is getting paid to do nothing over the international windows though, they are going to want to get paid extra for appear for the ABs, so in this situation, it’s hard to see many players being retained, yes.


I’m pretty sure they flew to Japan and met in person.


I’ve heard/had these discussions numerous times. I don’t think theres anyway to judge the interest that would be retain in SR. For one, it might be a more entertaining league as a result, as the JRLO is compared to Europe, despite it obviously being a lesser standard.


If SRP is of a lesser standard and now able to use Japanese and American players to bolster teams, perhaps those markets more than make up for the downturn in NZ and Aus? Perhaps it gives NZR flexibility to create a more fit for purpose interdomestic competition, and interest actually increases? All you might need is a proper pathway from school to pro?


Razor asked NZR to keep an open mind. Did NZR answer any of these questions to themself?

24 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

Yeah of course it can be, it manages a good commerical outcome when 100 million people are following it. I’m saying rugby is no where near even remotely close to getting the payoff you’re talking about, never mind the distinct lack of anyway to implement it.


So you’re going for the dirty approach. I’m not surprised, it’s the only way to easily implement it right now. I wouldn’t see the benefit to doing that myself. A draft, if purely feasible in it’s own right, doesn’t need to provide commercial benefit at all (if it works, that’s all it needs to do, as it no doubt did back in america’s heyday). But without the advantageous backing of sponsors and interest levels, if you pick the wrong method to implement it, like a dirty approach, you do potential harm to it’s acceptance.


The aspect’s of the approach you chose that I don’t like, is that the franchises are the ones spending the money of the U20’s only for there opposition to get first dibs. Personally, I would much prefer an investment into a proper pathway (which I can’t really see SR U20s being at all in anycase). I’m not exactly sure how the draft works in america, but I’m pretty sure it’s something like ‘anyone whishing to be pro has to sign for the draft’, and results in maybe 10 or 20% of those being drafted. The rest (that accumulative 80/90% year on year) do go back into club, pronvincial, or whatever they have there, and remain scouted and options to bring in on immediate notice for cover etc. You yes, you draw on everybody, but what is generating your interest in the drafties in the first plaec?


This is your missing peace. If some come through school and into the acadamies, which would be most, you’ve currently got three years of not seeing those players after they leave school. Those that miss and come in through club, maybe the second year theyre in the draft or whatever, aged 20/21, you’re going to have no clue how they’ve been playing. NPC is a high level, so any that are good enough to play that would already be drafted, but some late bloomers you might see come in NPC but then Sky’s not going to broadcast that anymore. So what’s generating this massive interest you’re talking about, and most importantly, how does it tie in with the other 7 clubs that will be drafting (and providing) players outside of NZ?


Is the next step to pump tens of millions into SRP U20s? That would be a good start for investment in the youth (to get onto international levels of pathway development) in the first place but are fans going to be interested to the same level as what happens in america? Baseball, as mentioned, has the minor leagues, if we use that model it hasn’t to be broad over the whole pacific, because you’re not having one draft right, they all have to play against each other. So here they get drafted young and sent out into a lower level thats more expansive that SR, is there interest in that? There would be for large parts, but how financially viable would it be. Twiggy tried to get a league started and NPC clubs joined. BOP and Taranaki want SR representation, do we have a mix of the biggest clubs and provinces/states make a couple of divisions? I think that is far more likely to fan interest and commerical capabilities than an U20 of the SR teams. Or ofc Uni fits a lot of options. I’ve not really read anything that has tried to nut out the feasability of a draft, it can certainly work if this spitballing is anything to go by, but I think first theres got to be a need for it far above just being a drafting level.

36 Go to comments
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