Rugby News: Dan Carter Signs With French Club Racing Metro

Dan Carter has signed with Racing Metro, a rugby club based in France after the All Blacks first five-eighth reportedly signed a $9 million over three years or $3 million per year deal with the French club. Carter, who will leave New Zealand after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, becomes one of the highest paid players in the sport.

"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 said via stuff.co.nz. “Having said that, it's the immediate future that is exciting me at the moment. 2015 is going to be a big year and I'm looking forward to getting into it, firstly with the Crusaders and then hopefully with the All Blacks.”

The 32-year-old Carter, who plays the fly-half / inside centre for his teams, represented Perpignan for a short period in 2007 and 2008. Carter has represented the New Zealand rugby national team since 2003 with a total of 1,425 points in 102 NT caps.

"He was a key part of a group of players who formed the backbone of the All Blacks over the following years, which ultimately helped the All Blacks to victory at Rugby World Cup 2011,” New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said in the same article. "For that we will be eternally grateful to him. We look forward to having him in New Zealand for one final season."

Other NZ rugby personalities also found time to appreciate Carter’s contributions to the national team including All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen, who stated that Carter is the “greatest first five-eighth ever”. Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder also had the same sentiments saying the Carter has given so much to New Zealand rugby already.

The move has been wildly criticised by some camps including Toulon’s Mourad Boudejellal, who accused Racing Metro of going over the salary cap to acquire Carter.