Leroy Carter: Paris Olympian set for All Blacks debut opposite Cheslin Kolbe

Leroy Carter will make his All Blacks debut in Wellington this weekend, and he will do so in a starting role opposite one of the great wingers of the game, Cheslin Kolbe.

The former All Blacks Sevens star is leaning on his big match experience from the shorter format game as he prepares to dive into the deep end of international rugby. That experience includes playing in front of a packed, raucous Stade de France at the Paris Olympics just last year.

It was South Africa who knocked New Zealand out of medal contention at the games, with Carter starting that quarter-final match before taking up an opportunity with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific for the 2025 season.

When reporters in Wellington asked whether his Sevens experience would benefit him this weekend, Carter replied, “Yeah, I’d hope so.”

“I’ve played in some pretty big matches; the Paris Olympics was a pretty big occasion, so hopefully that’ll help you out. But it’s playing for the All Blacks, the nation’s on your shoulder, so it’s going to be a new experience altogether.”

He added that the SVNS circuit has played an unmistakable role in his rugby journey.

“It just made me a professional. I was playing NPC and then going back to work. I was playing for the (Bay of Plenty) Steamers for three months of the year and then going back to being a sparky.

“The Sevens environment gave me a professional contract where I could just focus on rugby. So all the little things, nutrition, planning, all that little stuff, that’s helped me a lot.”

Fixture

Rugby Championship

New Zealand

10 - 43

Full-time

South Africa

All Stats and Data

It’s a similar journey to that of the man he will be marking on Saturday night, Cheslin Kolbe. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner was a finalist for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2024 and has been one of the most elusive threats in the game since his 2018 international debut.

“He obviously came through the Sevens as well, which is cool,” Carter said. “He’s a great player, one of the great wingers at the moment. So for me, that’s just another challenge that I’m really excited for. I just can’t wait to compete.”

Carter’s selection comes at the expense of Rieko Ioane, and ahead of the likes of Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece. The 26-year-old isn’t underestimating the honour of being selected in the black No.11 jersey.

“There’s been so many legends to wear that jersey; Jonah Lomu, Joe Rokocoko, Rieks (Ioane). So it’s another proud moment to be able to wear that No.11 with a silver fern on the front.”

He said hearing his name read out in the team naming this week was a special moment.

“The heart definitely started going, and then I just wanted to tell my parents and my partner. It’s a pretty special moment for not only me, but them too. It was just excitement.”

While he may have taken the Sevens route, the All Blacks jersey was always the dream destination. While his departure from the SVNS circuit was a gamble, it has well and truly paid off.

“It was always a dream, like every Kiwi kid. I took a route that some people in this team have as well, going through the Sevens program, and that definitely helped me a lot. I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that program, so really grateful for that.

“I guess I get to live out my dream on Saturday night.”

After being included in the squad as an injury reserve for Caleb Clarke, Carter was labelled the fastest Kiwi in Super Rugby by Scott Robertson. But today, he said he hasn’t got any sprint times to share, and that those numbers must have come from the players’ GPS trackers.

“I was a little bit surprised when he said I was the fastest in NZ, we’ve got a lot of speedsters around here.”

Carter is well-versed on what to expect from his opponents come Saturday night, with the high ball a point of emphasis for the All Blacks in the wake of a law change that has heightened restrictions around catching zone. Plenty of reps on the training park have Carter prepared for anything that may come his way.

Around the park, the debutant says he’s expecting classic Springbok rugby.

“Physicality, big boys, unpredictable, the lot. But that’s what we play rugby for, those big moments. I’m just really excited for it, can’t wait.”