Carter gets a taste of France
22 Sep 2008
All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter arrived in France on Sunday before being presented to the Perpignan faithful on Monday.
Carter, who has a six month contract with the French Top 14 side starting on 1 December, looked relaxed despite his 26-hour trip from Wellington via Hong Kong and London.
The Crusaders man, who will be available for his new club following the All Blacks end of year tour to the British Isles, was pleasantly surprised by the large welcoming committee present at the El Prat airport and said he was looking forward to getting to know Perpignan.
The 26-year-old was greeted by club President Paul Goze and coach Jacques Brunel.
“It’s an experience for him as well as for us,” said Brunel. “The important thing for now is to give him a warm welcome so that he feels good about his time with us.”
Carter will meet his new teammates and coaching staff on Monday before being presented to the fans and the media at the Aime-Giral stadium.
Perpignan currently lie second in the Top 14, having won four of their opening five matches. Carter’s first game looks likely to be against Heyneke Meyer’s Leicester Tigers in the European Cup on 6 December.
38 Comments
22 Sep 2008, 07:59 am
French dragon
22 Sep 2008, 08:22 am
They’ve just signed the world’s best rugby player.
22 Sep 2008, 08:30 am
Let us hope for Carter’s and the Abs sake that he returns to New Zeeland
rugby unscathed because Heyneke Meyer’s leicester Tigers won’t care
a hood about his reputation and good looks.
22 Sep 2008, 08:32 am
#2 TheTackler:
Agree… but I hope it won’t affect his game….
22 Sep 2008, 08:36 am
well at least we know that the standard of NH rugby will be greatly improved … seems to be the case with all the SH players going over there …
22 Sep 2008, 08:43 am
With so many SA/NZ/Aus/Argentina players playing for French sides we might as well start supporting the teams up north. At least we can keep track of local talent and how they’re performing
22 Sep 2008, 08:43 am
#3 brentie:
You rate Carter a looker aye Brentie?
22 Sep 2008, 08:44 am
#2 TheTackler: the SH’s best, the world’s best is Shane Williams this year.
22 Sep 2008, 08:48 am
Carter vs Hougaard opening match for both. Carter definitely better but in less structured team, heavier conditions and new combinations. GGoing to be interesting
22 Sep 2008, 08:53 am
R McCaw is the worlds best, Shane who?
22 Sep 2008, 08:55 am
#10 NZINCHINA: Wilkinson has played more internationals than McCaw this year, thats how injury prone he’s been.
22 Sep 2008, 08:56 am
#9 FrenklyMuDeah: I think that Liefling is still injured.
22 Sep 2008, 08:56 am
#9 FrenklyMuDeah:
Good marketing. Not only do they get the best player in the world but you also have the southern hemisphere tuning in to watch the games.
Half the guys at Loftus are going to be wearing Leicester Tigers jerseys soon. (Starting to rethink that good marketing ploy !)
22 Sep 2008, 08:59 am
#8 Big Hit:
No way….. Carter is in a league of his own… Williams is brilliant but he is not the best…
22 Sep 2008, 09:02 am
#14 THE MAULER: we’ll see what the judges think at the end of the year
22 Sep 2008, 09:05 am
#15 Big Hit:
Were you at the Sunderland Boro game over the weekend?
22 Sep 2008, 09:05 am
#8 Big Hit: ahhh, fark off biggie. shane williams the midget coal miner? he’s quick, good stepper, but not in the same league.
22 Sep 2008, 09:08 am
#17 the peanut gallery: top try scorer in the 6N and 2 tries v the Boks sending 5 of them in different directions (including Habana), all in a weakened Wales side, imagine what he could do if he was in a side like NZ
22 Sep 2008, 09:09 am
#18 Big Hit:
Its not that difficult scoring tries in the 6 Nations.
22 Sep 2008, 09:12 am
#18 Big Hit:
Wales have been weak since 1953, the last time we lost to them.
22 Sep 2008, 09:13 am
#12 Loosehead: Still injured but should be ready in fortnight, way Leicester are playing now will struggle to get into team.
#13 Boelie: Agree, brilliant marketing. The rugby played is great too. We need to beware of Northern hemisphere teams come next WC. They’re learning from our players based there and preventing continuity at home for us. We just can’t match the bucks. On a ligter not, hey, must be obvious I’m a Bulls supporter and have already converted to Leicester. Strange there are only three local stadiums I enjoy watching at, Loftus, Kings Park, Newlands, in that order.
22 Sep 2008, 09:14 am
#19 NZINCHINA: Still scored more than any French player, you remember France, the team that sent NZ home in the Qtrs.
22 Sep 2008, 09:15 am
#22 Big Hit:
He wouldn’t make a S14 franchise, but hes good at scoring tries against Italy.
22 Sep 2008, 09:18 am
#23 NZINCHINA: He’s scored v NZ too
22 Sep 2008, 09:20 am
#24 Big Hit:
He’s plays in a second rate comp against old men, not good enough to play in the SH.
22 Sep 2008, 09:53 am
#15 Big Hit:
He will be nominated but I think the winner will be an All Black or an Aussie…..
22 Sep 2008, 10:36 am
Now Daniel Carter will finally have the priviledge of playing with the world’s best attacking player – Phillip “The Burger King” Burger…. Carter and Burger in the same side. Should be good.
22 Sep 2008, 10:42 am
#27 Cheetha Champs:
HAHAHAHA Thats funny!!
22 Sep 2008, 15:13 pm
how much did they pay for this guy?
hope Daniel is prepared for the frenchie leagues, which at times resemble a bar brawl more than a rugby match. wonder if percy will also stay on with perpignan, will have 2 of the best placekickers in the world.
22 Sep 2008, 16:35 pm
Percy has already said au revoir to Perpignan and Alo to Cape Town.
Phillip Burger currently playing fullback for Perpignan
22 Sep 2008, 19:18 pm
Hope Carters French is a bit more polished than Percys was!!
Those Catalans don’t speak as much English as the rest of France, could be frustrating.
23 Sep 2008, 00:31 am
#19 NZINCHINA:
But England makes it look so hard to score tries in that comp.
23 Sep 2008, 00:36 am
#11 Big Hit:
So how was Wilkos record of injuries in the last 4 years.
And now compare that to Richie.
Typical Big hit tells half of the story,of course the part that makes his arguement or point look better,and keeps the rest quiet
23 Sep 2008, 02:05 am
#8 Big Hit: Piss off tosspot when was the last time a whinging pom supported the Welsh, they hate you more than you hate the kiwi’s
23 Sep 2008, 02:08 am
#24 Big Hit: When, and he can’t tackle, like most poms
23 Sep 2008, 06:09 am
Check the records Big Hit. You make the smart comments about the French beating NZ in World Cups. They have twice! How many times have they lost to NZ over the last 60 years. Don’t even try to compare Shane Williams with Carter. He was stuggling to make the Welsh teams a season or so back! Give Carter a break Big Hit – at least he’s a nice guy!
23 Sep 2008, 06:52 am
#36 Kiwikev: No comparison between the two – but i do believe that Richie will get player of the year.
23 Sep 2008, 12:24 pm
#36 Kiwikev:
Big Hit is really jealous,he cant believe a country with a population less than alot of major cities can destroy nations.
He hasnt found the threads for the minnows yet so thats why he is posting here,trying to mix it with the fans of the 2 top teams in the world.
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