Are we going to see Dan Carter on the field again. At 39, and a year and a half after his last appearance - February 23, 2020 in the Japanese Top League with the Kobelco Steelers - it would be an unlikely comeback. Already last year, he joined the ranks of the Auckland Blues. Without playing any game. Before announcing his retirement from sports. But a message posted on Instagram (where he has more than a million followers) on Wednesday put the whole of New Zealand in turmoil. “Kia ora whanau. I just finished a kicking session. I'm training for a little return to the rugby pitch actually. In what capacity exactly, I can't really say too much at the moment. "
Speculation immediately took off.
Will the father of four children put on his crampons again?
And if so, at what level?
And in which country?
After investigation, the New Zealand media, circumspect, are far from asserting that the double world champion will again put on a flocked jersey of number 10. Several tracks are put forward by Kiwi journalists.
A departure for the Major League in the United States.
A freelance for his province, Canterbury, which competes in the national championship (CNP) which he left in 2014. Or quite simply a return to his small training club, Southbridge.
Engaged in the Rugby Union 12-a-side project?
A fourth track, however, seems to hold the rope. According to Stuff, Dan Carter, 112 caps in the silver fern jersey, will invest in the new 12-a-side rugby project, worn by the former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, a very close to the star. Ten days ago, a private company launched the idea of a Rugby Union World Cup 12, which would take place in August and September 2022 in England, with 192 of the best players in the world (divided into eight franchises of 24 players). Project supported by Steve Hansen therefore, but also the former Springboks coach Jake White and former presidents of the English (Ian Ritchie), New Zealand (Steve Tew) and Welsh (Gareth Davies) federations.
Former Wallabies star Matt Giteau, ex-Springbok Schalk Burger and former England international Ugo Monye have already joined the project as ambassadors. And future actors? It is therefore likely that Dan Carter will join this project. Which may seem a bit ambitious, even if Ian Ritchie assured to be at the head of a nest egg of 290 million euros injected by enthusiastic investors. "A natural evolution for rugby," sold the ex-president of the RFU. We think it's made for our rapidly changing and evolving world, and fans will love it. By bringing together the most exciting players under the leadership of some of rugby's brightest minds, we seek to propel rugby forward. ”
What will be the nature of this "little return to the field" announced by Dan Carter? The answer will not be long in coming.
