Dan Carter: All Blacks great retires from professional rugby
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
New Zealand's Dan Carter, who won two World Cups and is world rugby's record points scorer, has announced his retirement from professional rugby.
The fly-half, 38, won the last of his 112 All Blacks caps with a man-of-the-match display in the 2015 World Cup final win over Australia.
He has since played for French club Racing 92 and Japan's Kobelco Steelers.
The three-time world player of the year returned to New Zealand for a brief spell with the Auckland Blues in 2020.
In an emotional post on Instagram, Carter wrote: "I've thought about this on so many occasions but today is the day and I am very grateful that I can do it on my terms.
"I'm officially retiring from professional rugby. A sport I've played 32 years which has helped shape me into the person I am today.
"I can't thank everyone who has played a part in my journey enough, particularly you, the fans. I'm excited about my next chapter in life and what that will look like.
"For now, I'm sad to walk away from playing but the timing is right. Rugby will always be a part of my life."
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Carter said he had lost his motivation on his return home to play with the Blues in June 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
"The more I took time off the more I realised I didn't want to play overseas and not having the drive to play here I knew in my mind the time was right," he said.
Carter, who turned out for his childhood rugby club Southbridge in July, did not make an appearance for the Blues in Super Rugby Aotearoa last year.
His professional career started in 2002. He won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders and is the competition's record scorer, as well as winning league titles in Japan and France.
Carter also won the World Cup in 2011, but missed the latter stages of the competition because of a groin injury.
His 1,598 points in international rugby are 352 ahead of England's Jonny Wilkinson, who Carter memorably came up against and defeated in the 2005 British and Irish Lions series.
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Well played Mr Carter
If there was anyone that came near owning this status, Dan Carter certainly did.
What a player!
The fact that the comments here are 100 % saying what a great player and a great individual bears testimony to how Dan is regarded throughout the rugby world. He's earned the respect of all nationalities. Great player, great man.
More importantly, he appears to have retained that balance of charisma, civility and humility.
Long may the sport continue to create role models and pure talent like this.
Pity he wasn't in the team colours I support, but you can't have it all!!