All Blacks great Dan Carter is poised to become the world’s highest-paid rugby player when he moves to France after next year’s Rugby World Cup on a three-year deal with Racing Metro.
The 32-year-old five-eighth, capped 102 times by his country, announced he had signed with the Paris club at a media conference in Auckland on Thursday.
“It’s going to be an awesome adventure for me and my family,” he said of the move to the French Top 14 club.
“I know what the French culture and their rugby culture is like and it’s something I really love.”
Pay wasn’t discussed at the media conference but media in Europe report he’ll be on 1.5 million euros ($A2.25 million) a year, making him the best-paid player in the game.
Carter admitted to feeling emotional about the prospect of leaving New Zealand rugby, but the “opportunity to financially set yourself up for the future was a big part” of his decision.
The move will effectively end Carter’s Test career as New Zealand does not select those playing abroad.
He has a world-record 1457 Test points and has been twice named the world’s best player.
But his role as first-choice in the All Blacks’ No.10 jersey has been put in doubt recently after the emergence of Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett.
Carter played 30 minutes off the bench against the United States in Chicago but then had an unconvincing 55 minutes after starting against Scotland on the All Blacks’ end of year tour.
His season was marred by injury when he broke his leg playing for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final shortly after returning to the game after a six-month break.
“It’s no secret I want to be part of that World Cup side, but there’s no guarantees in rugby and you’ve got to earn everything you receive,” he said.
“For me the biggest challenge is just getting out there and working hard and I guess not looking too far ahead.”
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Carter still had a lot to offer at international level.
“He is still in the midst of a wonderful career, both as a provincial and Super Rugby player and an All Black, and will leave us as the greatest first five-eighth ever,” Hansen said.
“Whilst he hasn’t finished yet in New Zealand, he has already set the benchmark for first five play, and we look forward to seeing him out on the paddock in 2015.”
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew also paid tribute to Carter, saying the All Blacks’ success over the past decade has largely centred around Richie McCaw and him.
“So we genuinely say thanks,” Tew said.
“It’s too early to start doing anything emotional in that regard, because there’s still plenty of footy to play.”
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