The worst kept secret in world rugby has finally come out.
Dan Carter will be playing his rugby in France next year with ambitious Parisian club, Racing Metro, writing the Southbridge lad a world record fee for any rugby player - $3 million per season over 3 seasons.
So for Carter, the ideal scenario would be playing his last game for New Zealand rugby in black in the Rugby World Cup Final at Twickenham next October, and then catching the Eurostar to Paris to start life in the Top 14.
Racing Metro have been brave in forking out so much money. While there is little doubt that Carter is the best first five in world rugby ever, Carter will be 33 by the time he arrives, so isn't exactly a spring chicken and his luck with injuries in the last couple of seasons hasn't been particularly good - even more so when you consider his brief ill-fated stint with Perpignan in 2009.
On the other hand, the Top 14 isn't as aggressive on the body as Super Rugby or the English Premiership - Jonny Wilkinson managed to eck out a couple more years from his ragged body to lead Toulon to double European success. Dan the man will be hoping to emulate Jonny boy when he starts life in the French capital next year.
Cheers Dan for all the memories - now bring home the bacon for the Crusaders and ABs next year!
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