New Zealand
Dan Carter sought Paris safety assurance before heading to Racing 92
AAP
November 28, 2015
Carter arrives in France for new chapter

Dan Carter sought assurance about the safety of his family before arriving in Paris to begin a three-year stint in French club rugby in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in the city that claimed 130 lives and injured many more.

Carter, 33, said at his first press conference since arriving at the Racing 92 club on the outskirts of Paris that he had sought advice from several figures at the club about the safety in Paris for himself, his wife and two sons.

"There has been so much reassurance about the city of Paris from the people we talked to, it gave us confidence that life has gone on here, so nothing changed," he said.

Dan Carter faces the media as a Racing 92 player for the first time, Paris, France. November 27, 2015
Dan Carter faces the media as a Racing 92 player for the first time © Getty Images
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"It's never easy, coming from such a safe and secure place like New Zealand. It's probably harder for the friends and family who you're leaving behind, but I'm sure they'll be over here visiting in no time."

Carter was introduced to club supporters on Friday, when he said that he was excited about beginning what is reported to be the most lucrative rugby club contract in history, in the sphere of €1 million (£705,000, $NZL1.6 million, $Aus1.47 million) per season.

He reiterated that boosting his bank account wasn't the chief motivation after ending his storied 112-Test career that he wound up with a man-of-the-match performance for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final against Australia before he was crowned World Player of the Year for the third time.

"You can make pretty good money playing in New Zealand, too," he said.

"It's not all bad.

"The thing is, you can't play international rugby any more for the All Blacks, and that's why I stayed in New Zealand for 13 years.

"I've accepted the ruling and I'm happy to retire from international rugby and move onto this challenge."

Carter said he was always determined to return to France after his six-month contract in 2009 with another Top 14 club, Perpignan, was cut short by serious injury. The world record points scorer saw enough in that short period to whet his appetite.

"Part of the reason I came back was because of those six months I had living in France which reaffirmed what an amazing country it is."

Carter spoke also of his ambition to follow the example set by Jonny Wilkinson, who enjoyed a glittering career for Toulon.

"He won multiple European championships, he won the Top 14 too and he had an amazing time here in France," Carter said of Wilkinson.

Carter said also that Wilkinson had been a personal inspiration, explaining how the Englishman's performances at the elite level of the game during the twilight of his career had made him believe he could do something similar for the All Blacks.

"When I was following the end of his career, I took a bit of inspiration from that. A lot of people had probably written him off up until then but it revived his career and he finished on a real high. I can only dream of the success that he had in his time here in France. We'll have to wait and see."

© AAP

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