Dan Carter: Everything you need to know about the legendary All Black fly-half

Dylan Coetzee 19 Jun 2023 8:37 AM

Rugby World Cup: Dan Carter of the All Blacks looking on

One of the great masters of rugby union and widely regarded as one of the best to ever pick up an oval ball, Dan Carter is arguably the closest the game has seen to a complete fly-half.

His career fell over a period of 18 years where he went from setting his roots in New Zealand to travelling the world as one of rugby’s highest profile players.

Carter was an absolute points machine everywhere he went, whether from his accurate boot or scoring tries; the great All Black could do it all.

Player background

Carter is from a small town in New Zealand’s south island called Southbridge and his rugby journey began from the age of five when he played for the local club.

He initially went to Ellesmere College where he represented the first team but made a crucial move in his last year to Christchurch Boys High School. The move would prove to be crucial in his rugby journey.

Club career

The fly-half’s professional career started in 2002 when he debuted for Canterbury only to earn himself a Crusaders contract the following year. He would mostly be in the 12 jersey at this point outside the great Andrew Mehrtens.

The Crusaders reached the 2003 and 2004 finals but lost both. It was only when Carter shifted to fly-half that the club managed to go all the way through to win the Super Rugby title in 2005. In typical fashion, the Christchurch side would go back-to-back with Carter scoring the most individual points in a season with 221 in 2006.

He would miss out on a three-peat of tournament wins in 2007 but got straight back into the silverware with a Super Rugby title in 2008. Soon after, he would sign a short-term contract with Perpignan in the Top 14 where he managed five games before being sidelined with injury. The club would go on to win the league title without him.

🔥 A sumptuous Dan Carter moment of magic to get you in the mood for Crusaders facing the Reds later today! #REDvCRU #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/jONJBAXbEt

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 31, 2023

There would not be much more in the way of silverware for the remainder of his time in Christchurch but in 2012 Carter underlined his status as one of the greatest the competition has seen by becoming the all-time points scorer with 1708 – a record he still holds.

Carter would move back to France in 2015 after the Rugby World Cup where he joined Racing 92 and became the highest-earning rugby player in history earning €1,500,000 a season.

He would pay back the money with a Top 14 title in 2016 where he was man-of-the-match in a final his team played with 14 men for 62 minutes against Toulon.

In 2018, Carter joined the Kobelco Steelers in what was then called the Japanese Top League and won the title at the first point of asking.

Carter retired from all forms of rugby in 2021.

International career

The New Zealander’s club career was something to behold but paled in comparison to his Test career.

Carter debuted for the All Blacks in 2003 scoring 20 points in his first Test as he set the tone for a glittering career. The star earned selection for the World Cup that year where he played some of the pool games, whilst also winning the Tri-Nations.

It was in 2004 that Carter would begin to step into the limelight and beyond the shadow of Carlos Spencer. By 2005, Carter had settled into the fly-half role and announced himself with a 33-point haul in the second Test against the British & Irish Lions. This performance was memorable and would go down as one of the greatest by a pivot in the modern era.

Is this the most complete performance ever by a first five-eighth? We relive Dan Carter's 33-point effort against the Lions in 2005.#SteinlagerClassicMoment pic.twitter.com/E7YRDOa6AI

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 10, 2020

The All Blacks would win the series and the Tri-Nations that year as Carter was named IRB Player of the Year for the first time.

He would go on to guide his country to Tri-Nations titles for the next three years as he further grew in stature.

The 2007 World Cup did not go according to plan for New Zealand as they were controversially kicked out by France. But Carter and his side kicked on with 2008 and 2010 Tri-Nations wins.

By 2011 Carter surpassed the legendary Jonny Wilkinson as the highest Test points-scorer of all-time which he extended to 1,598 points by the end of his career. The All Black is still the top points-scorer in history.

In 2011, it was all set to be a perfect World Cup year but the superstar suffered a tournament-ending injury ahead of the clash with Canada in which he was set to captain his country for the first time.

New Zealand would go on to win the tournament but it would leave a void for Carter who responded by playing out of his socks in 2012 winning the newly formed Rugby Championship and being named IRB Player of the Year for the second time.

A year later Carter confirmed his spot as rugby royalty by becoming the fifth All Black centurion in history before winning two more Rugby Championships in 2013 and 2014.

With his move away from New Zealand secured, Carter had one chance at the World Cup again before hanging up his boots on the Test scene.

As expected Carter proceeded to showcase his outstanding ability, pulling strings all tournament long to power New Zealand to another World Cup.