The NZRU have confirmed that fly-half Dan Carter will leave his central contract after the 2015 World Cup and join French club Racing Métro. He will become the first player in rugby history to earn more than £1 million per year.
And the Kiwi playmaker, who has earned an astonishing 102 caps in a New Zealand career that has spanned 11 years, admits that the money was simply too good to turn down.
“I’ve got a young family, and that definitely comes into play as the most important thing, and at the stage we’re at it’s the perfect opportunity to experience living outside of New Zealand,” Carter said. “Obviously realising you can’t play rugby forever and wanting to make the most of that opportunity financially and set yourself up for the future was a big part of it as well. And Paris is not a bad place to live – one my favourite cities, which I’m quite excited about.”
“It’s going to be an awesome adventure for me and my family. Having visited France many times, including my time with Perpignan, I know what the French culture and their rugby culture is like and it’s something I really love.”
Carter is not the first, nor will he be the last, big name southern hemisphere player to sign for a European club on a post-RWC contract. Yesterday, ambitious Bordeaux Begles announced that they had signed Australian utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper on a three year deal after 2015.
Harlequins have also confirmed the signing of Wallaby lock, and ex-skipper, James Horwill, also on a three year deal. Northampton captain Dylan Hartley, meanwhile, rejected a big money offer from Montpellier to resign for the Saints, as one of a handful of players to announce a new deal.
Conspicuous by his absence on that list, however, was American powerhouse Samu Manoa, who is widely expected to announce a deal with Toulon soon.
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Rugby’s first million pound a year player. An astonishing amount of money really given the reach of rugby, even for one of it’s stars. Do not begrudge the players at all, just don’t want some Leeds/Cardiff (football) style meltdown to be built up.
Great move by Dan. Well done and good luck!
Was Chabal not on a million a year?
I don’t think so? Perhaps that was Euros?
Actually it was Inga Tuigamala who was the first million pound player: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Va%27aiga_Tuigamala
That wasn’t per year though Gerry. Pretty sure that prior to Carter the highest annual rugby union salary was Jonny W’s ~700K pounds.
RIP Rugby.
DDD
That last comment makes me feel as dry as a dead dingo’s donger, so I’m off to Wetherspoons to drown my sorrows!
PS Will DC start for the ABs in the WC?
Good point Don. I am sure that (to use the England vernacular) he has plenty of “credit in the bank” (Pun intended), but he didn’t look like New Zealand’s best 10 (or even second best 10) in the autumn.
Good for him though.
Well DC hasn’t played much & we’ll have to see, but I suspect Hansen is moth balling him for nxt yr. As SL pointed out, the ABs have 9 over 30s in their squad (haven’t counted personally, but SL’s homework is likely correct), so their policy is exp for the big 1; when the hair dryer is on. Unlikely to discard all this exp unnecessarily, incl DC methinks.