Dan Carter

Dan Carter
Full name Daniel William Carter
Date of birth 5 March 1982
Place of birth Southbridge, Canterbury, New Zealand
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
School Ellesmere College
Christchurch Boys' High
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Fly-half / Inside Centre
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2008–09
2015–
Perpignan
Racing Métro
5 (45)
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2002– Canterbury 28 (300)
correct as of 19 October 2014.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2003– Crusaders 134 (1,650)
correct as of 17 April 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2003– New Zealand 102 (1,455)
correct as of 15 November 2014.

Daniel William "Dan" Carter (born 5 March 1982) is a New Zealand rugby union player.

Carter plays for the the Canterbury Crusaders and New Zealand's national team the All Blacks. He is the highest points scorer in Test match rugby,[1] and is arguably the sport's greatest ever first-five eighth (fly-half).[2] He was named the International Rugby Board player of the year in 2005 and 2012, and has won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, and six Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships with the All Blacks.

Carter was also a member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks side.

Early life

Carter who is of Māori descent[3] was born on 5 March 1982 in Southbridge, a small town in the South Island of New Zealand, to Neville and Bev Carter,[4] and has one older sister, Sarah. From the age of 5, he played with Southbridge Rugby Club as a half back (scrum half). He attended Ellesmere College, and then Christchurch Boys High School, he was also a second-string first five-eighth (fly-half) to Brendon McCullum, who went on to become Black Caps captain in cricket,[5] and has said he was a shy and quiet young man who kept grand aspirations to himself.[6] His great uncle was Canterbury and New Zealand half back Bill Dalley, a member of the 1924–25 Invincibles and later a Canterbury rugby administrator.

Domestic career

Carter kicking at goal for the Crusaders

Carter made his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2002, and in 2003 was signed by the Super Rugby side the Crusaders. Initially playing mainly at second five-eighth Carter reached the final of the Super 12 competition with the Crusaders in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Although they lost the 2003 and 2004 finals, in 2005 Carter had moved to first five-eighth. He regularly played with first-five eighth Andrew Mehrtens before Mehrtens left the team following their 2004 season. In 2005 and 2006 the Crusaders won the competition, and in the 2006 season Carter scored the most individual points for a player in one season with 221. In April 2008, Carter was linked with several European clubs, including Stade Toulousain who in April 2008 offered Carter "the biggest rugby contract in world rugby", at £750,000 per year.[7] In June 2008, Carter made the decision to sign a six-month contract with French club side Perpignan, who then paid Carter the equivalent of £30,000 per game, during his sabbatical season.[8] On 31 January 2009 Carter ruptured his Achilles tendon playing for Perpignan against Stade Francais, but Perpignan still managed to win the Top 14 despite Carter being injured for the remainder of the season. He recovered in time to play for his home provincial union, Canterbury, in the opening game of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup. He then won selection to play for the All Blacks against Australia on 22 August 2009 after a few months of recovery. In May 2012, Carter was the top scorer in Super Rugby history, with 1301 points.[9] In December 2014 it was announced Carter would be joining Parisian club Racing Metro after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, on a three-year deal worth a reported €1,500,000 a season, making him the worlds highest paid player.[10]

International career

Carter and Mauricio Macri at a welcome for the All Blacks

In June 2003, Carter made his All Blacks debut at age 21 in Hamilton, New Zealand, scoring 20 points against Wales. He was then capped against France in Christchurch, which the All Blacks won 31–23. He was also a substitute in a match against Australia (the Wallabies) in Sydney, which the All Blacks won 50–21. Carter was then included in New Zealand's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad, where he first gained serious international attention. Carter spent much of the latter stages of the tournament on the bench leaving New Zealand without a specialist goal-kicker. However, he did play in the games against Italy in Melbourne, which the All Blacks won 70–7, and the wins over Canada and Tonga. Although he has been an All Black since 2003 he only secured a permanent position as the first five-eighth in the team during the 2004 tour to the United Kingdom and France displacing Carlos Spencer. He had been playing as a second five-eighths up until the end of the 2004 Tri-Nations. In 2005, Carter starred in the All Blacks 48-18 win over the British and Irish Lions. He scored two tries, five penalties, and four conversions. He ended the match with 33 points, passing the previous All Blacks record of 18 points in a Lions Test (Carter's second-half total of 22 points by itself was sufficient to top this). The performance was later described by The Guardian as "the definitive fly-half display of the modern era".[11]

On 27 November 2010, after scoring a halfway penalty against Wales, Carter became the highest point scorer of all time,[12][13] overtaking England's Jonny Wilkinson's previous record of 1,178 although Wilkinson took the record back on 26 February 2011 against France. Carter reclaimed the record on 30 July 2011 when he advanced to 1,204 points in the first tri-nations match of the 2011 series against South Africa.[1] He has currently scored a total of 1,455 test points (29 tries, 259 conversions, 258 penalties, and 6 drop goals) in 102 tests, with an average of 14.4 points a game (the highest average for players who have scored more than 500 Test points). Along with Richie McCaw Carter earns 750,000 NZD a year being the joint highest paid player in New Zealand. This high paying contract by the New Zealand Rugby Union is not subject to form or fitness as both players are regarded as integral to the All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup plans. It was announced on 1 October that Carter would captain the All Blacks for the first time against Canada. However, it was later announced that Carter would miss the rest of the 2011 Rugby World Cup after tearing a groin tendon during the final training session before the match against Canada.[14] Carter has signed a contract to re-sign with the NZRU until 2015.[15]

Carter was named IRB Player of the Year in 2012,[16] but eyebrows were raised when he missed out being named in the shortlist for New Zealand Player of the Year.[17]

On 16 November 2013, Carter became the fifth All Black to win 100 caps when New Zealand defeated England by 30-22 at Twickenham on their end of year tour.[18]

International record

Test record overall:[19]

Opposition PlayedWonDrawnLost Winning % TriesConversionsPenaltiesDrop goalsPoints total
 Argentina 3300100.0176037
 Australia 24181575.0341732322
 British and Irish Lions 2200100.0258044
 Canada 2200100.03160047
 England 11100190.9429340180
 Fiji 2200100.0180021
 France 11100190.9226271146
 Ireland 6600100.001816187
 Italy 3300100.02201053
 Japan 1100100.0050010
 Pacific Islanders 1100100.0041011
 Samoa 1100100.0060012
 Scotland 5500100.02148062
 South Africa 17130476.5330542243
 United States 1100100.003006
 Tonga 2200100.0131014
 Wales 9900100.0525290162
Total 1029011188.242925925861455

Test tries:[20]

Tries Opposition Location Venue Competition Date Result
1  Wales Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium Test Match 21 June 2003 Won
1  Australia Sydney, Australia Stadium Australia Tri Nations 26 July 2003 Won
1  Italy Melbourne, Australia Docklands Stadium Rugby World Cup 11 October 2003 Won
1  Tonga Brisbane, Australia Lang Park Rugby World Cup 24 October 2003 Won
1  England Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park Test Match 19 June 2004 Won
1  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Flaminio Test Match 13 November 2004 Won
1  France Paris, France Stade de France Test Match 27 November 2004 Won
1  Fiji North Shore City, New Zealand North Harbour Stadium Test Match 10 June 2005 Won
2  British and Irish Lions Wellington, New Zealand Westpac Stadium Test Match 2 July 2005 Won
2  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Test Match 5 November 2005 Won
1  Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina Ferrocaril Oeste Test Match 24 June 2006 Won
1  South Africa Rustenburg, South Africa Royal Bafokeng Stadium Tri Nations 2 September 2006 Lost
1  England London, England Twickenham Test Match 5 November 2006 Won
1  France Lyon, France Stade de Gerland Test Match 11 November 2006 Won
3  Canada Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium Test Match 16 June 2007 Won
1  South Africa Christchurch, New Zealand Lancaster Park Tri Nations 14 July 2007 Won
1  Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland Murrayfield Test Match 23 September 2007 Won
1  England Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park Test Match 14 June 2008 Won
1  England Christchurch, New Zealand Lancaster Park Test Match 21 June 2008 Won
1  South Africa Cape Town, South Africa Newlands Stadium Tri Nations 16 August 2008 Won
1  Australia Brisbane, Australia Lang Park Tri Nations 13 September 2008 Won
2  Wales Dunedin, New Zealand Carisbrook Test Match 19 June 2010 Won
1  Australia Melbourne, Australia Docklands Stadium Tri Nations 31 July 2010 Won
1  Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland Murrayfield Test Match 13 November 2010 Won

Personal life

Carter is married to his longtime girlfriend and former Black Sticks striker Honor Carter. They became engaged in October 2010 when Honor was Marketing Manager at DB Breweries.[21] They married 9 December 2011[22] and wedding guests included rugby luminaries Richie McCaw and All Blacks former coach Graham Henry.[23]

Honor announced her pregnancy in November 2012[24] and their son Marco James Carter was born on 28 March 2013.[25] Their second son Fox William Carter was born on 3 April 2015 [26] Carter has modelled for Jockey underwear on billboards worldwide since 2003.[27][28] In 2009, Carter and his future wife joined him in one campaign.[29]

In 2004 and 2005, Carter was voted sexiest New Zealand male in a survey, receiving 35.7% of the vote in 2005.[30]

In November 2006, he released his book Dan Carter: Skills & Performance. It included stories about his relatively brief international rugby career as well as section on skills for younger players.

In 2008, American Cable Channel E! judged Carter to be 11th on its list of the world's sexiest men,[31] and in 2010 E! voted him the world's 3rd sexiest male athlete.[32]

Carter has also been a spokesmodel for Daikin heat pumps,[33] and from mid-2011, Philips electric shavers.[34]

Honours

Personal accolades

Canterbury

Crusaders

Perpignan

New Zealand

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "BBC Sport – New Zealand humble South Africa". BBC News. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  2. "Dan Carter | Rugby Union | Players and Officials". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  3. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10648090
  4. Knowler, Richard (23 November 2009). "Parents' gift led to Dan Carter's talent". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  5. Cricket World Cup 2015: Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum could have been an All Blacks star
  6. Coursey, Michelle. "Dan Carter: I was a shy kid". NZ Woman's Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  7. "Toulouse make an amazing £750,000 bid to get Carter". Daily Mail (UK: Associated Newspapers). 17 April 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  8. Gray, Wynne (26 June 2008). "European Cup sways Carter's Perpignan move". New Zealand Herald (APN). Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  9. "Crusaders win as Dan Carter sets record". Stuff (Fairfax). NZPA. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  10. "Dan Carter to end All Blacks career after World Cup for Racing Metro". BBC. 18 December 2014.
  11. Kitson, Robert (12 November 2012). "New Zealand's Dan Carter unstoppable in six-try romp against Scotland". Guardian. UK. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  12. Gallagher, Brendan (25 November 2010). "Wales v New Zealand: Dan Carter the unstoppable points machine for the All Blacks". Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  13. "Wales 25 New Zealand 37: match report". Telegraph.co.uk. 28 November 2010.
  14. Averis, Mike (2 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand lose Dan Carter to groin injury". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  15. Ford, Greg (14 November 2010). "Rodney So'oialo, Ali Williams on a roll". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  16. "Carter, Hansen, ABs sweep IRB awards". 3 News NZ. MediaWorks. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  17. "Carter misses NZ Player of Year shortlist". 3 News. New Zealand: MediaWorks. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  18. "England lose 30-22 to New Zealand at Twickenham". BBC Sport. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  19. "Dan Carter". allblacks.com. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  20. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Dan Carter / Test matches". Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  21. "DB Breweries". Admedia. Mediaweb. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  22. Ensor, Blair; Young, Rachel; Daly, Michael (9 December 2011). "Dan Carter and Honor Dillon married". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  23. Booker, Jarrod (9 December 2011). "Rugby royalty head to the venue for Dan's biggest match". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  24. "Dan Carter, wife announce pregnancy on Twitter". New Zealand Herald. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  25. "Dan Carter welcomes birth of a son". 3 News. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  26. "Dan Carter has second son, baby 'healthy, and handsome'". 5 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  27. Daniels, Chris (18 November 2007). "Jockey taking Dan Carter ads worldwide". New Zealand Herald. APN. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  28. Knight, Kim (1 September 2013). "Dan Carter: Ten years in his Jockeys". Auckland Now. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  29. "Dan Carter strips off with girlfriend". One News. Television New Zealand. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  30. "American TV puts sexy Dan Carter in 11th heaven". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax Media. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  31. "It's official, ladies - Dan Carter off the market". News. TVNZ. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  32. "All Black legend Dan Carter and Daikin, a hot combination". Campaign Brief NZ. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  33. Robert, Deirdre (19 July 2011). "Dan Carter pulls out the razor and shares different side". Stop Press. New Zealand: Tangible Media. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  34. 35.0 35.1 http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=displayNews&newsArticle=3212
  35. Irb player of the year
  36. /newsid=2064590.html#dan+carter+named+irb+player+year "Dan Carter named IRB Player of the Year". IRB. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  37. List of Super Rugby records
  38. List of leading rugby union test point scorers
  39. "Dan Carter". testrugby.com.
  40. Ranfurly Shield in 2009
  41. 2011 Super Rugby season
  42. Carter to play his 100th Super Rugby game for the Crusaders Video by Carter to play his 100th Super Rugby game for the Crusaders
  43. "Rugby union: Perpignan's Dan Carter out for the season thanks to achilles tendon injury". the Guardian.
  44. 45.0 45.1 "Dan Carter - Rugby Union - Players and Officials - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  45. "Grading the All Blacks' Grand Slams". TVNZ.
  46. "Carter: 'We have the grit to win another grand slam'". the Guardian.
  47. "All Blacks complete Grand Slam". Express.co.uk.
  48. "Carter set for scan". Stuff.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dan Carter.
Awards
Preceded by
South Africa Schalk Burger
IRB International Player of the Year
2005
Succeeded by
New Zealand Richie McCaw