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Dan Carter has just confirmed his last game in Japan

By Online Editors
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Dan Carter has played his last game in the Top League after taking to Instagram to admit his two-season stint in Japan is over due to the campaign-ending coronavirus outbreak. The legendary out-half, who played 112 times for the All Blacks, turned 38 in March and fans will now wonder if the curtain has fallen on a stellar career where he featured for the Crusaders, Perpignan and Racing 92 before joining the Top League. 

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“I’ve gone a bit quiet since the JRU announced they are cancelling all their competitions this season,” wrote Carter on his social media account. “I know it’s the right decision with what the world is going through at the moment but I would have loved to try help my @kobelcosteelers_official family win another top league, and I’m gutted I can’t do this. 

“I want to thank the club, fans and my team-mates for welcoming me and making the last two seasons some of the most enjoyable rugby I have ever played. The clubs future is looking very bright, and I’m glad I got to add my little piece to the @kobelcosteelers_official legacy. #kobelcosteelers #rugby.”

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Carter was one of the growing Japanese league’s biggest signings and the 2020 season had been shaping up to be its most popular yet as the tournament had attracted a whole host of other stars – such as fellow New Zealander Kieran Read – who had stayed on in the country following their participation in the recent World Cup finals which had put rugby centre stage.  

It was 2003 when Carter first made his breakthrough, jumping through the ranks at the Super Rugby Crusaders and going on to make his All Blacks debut that same year. Now, 17 years later, he appears to have called time on a career that will be fondly remembered. 

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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