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Dan Carter has just confirmed his last game in Japan

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Dan Carter has played his last game in the Top League after taking to Instagram to admit his two-season stint in Japan is over due to the campaign-ending coronavirus outbreak. The legendary out-half, who played 112 times for the All Blacks, turned 38 in March and fans will now wonder if the curtain has fallen on a stellar career where he featured for the Crusaders, Perpignan and Racing 92 before joining the Top League. 

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“I’ve gone a bit quiet since the JRU announced they are cancelling all their competitions this season,” wrote Carter on his social media account. “I know it’s the right decision with what the world is going through at the moment but I would have loved to try help my @kobelcosteelers_official family win another top league, and I’m gutted I can’t do this. 

“I want to thank the club, fans and my team-mates for welcoming me and making the last two seasons some of the most enjoyable rugby I have ever played. The clubs future is looking very bright, and I’m glad I got to add my little piece to the @kobelcosteelers_official legacy. #kobelcosteelers #rugby.”

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Carter was one of the growing Japanese league’s biggest signings and the 2020 season had been shaping up to be its most popular yet as the tournament had attracted a whole host of other stars – such as fellow New Zealander Kieran Read – who had stayed on in the country following their participation in the recent World Cup finals which had put rugby centre stage.  

It was 2003 when Carter first made his breakthrough, jumping through the ranks at the Super Rugby Crusaders and going on to make his All Blacks debut that same year. Now, 17 years later, he appears to have called time on a career that will be fondly remembered. 

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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