All Black Dan Carter has come through 40 minutes of club rugby in his first match back after a six-month break.

Carter played the opening spell for Southbridge in their Canterbury Country Combined Competition division one playoff against Glenmark.

The five-eighth admitted to catching his breath a couple of times, but didn’t feel too bad after having done plenty of fitness work.

He expects to be back in Southbridge colours next week as he prepares for his comeback to Super Rugby with the Crusaders after the June international window.

Carter, the most prolific points scorer in Test history, landed two penalties and two conversions, and set up a couple of tries, as Southbridge beat Glenmark 51-10.

His last match before his sabbatical was the All Blacks’ 30-22 win over England at Twickenham last November.

It was his 100th Test, but it ended in disappointment, having to go off in the first half with an achilles injury.