Age bows to no one, even if you’re Dan Carter.
The All Blacks great says he will lay low and appreciate the respite from rugby’s grind when he takes a six-month break next year.
Carter, the most prolific Test points scorer, will store his boots away after New Zealand play their year-ending Test against Ireland in Dublin on November 24.
He will miss most or all of next year’s Super Rugby season with the Crusaders along with three home Tests against England in June.
The 31-year-old’s break will mirror that taken this year by All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, which saw the flanker return to rugby late in the Crusaders’ season and be available for the Rugby Championship.
Carter is driven by getting his body and mind in peak condition for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, having endured mostly negative experiences at the three previous tournaments.
He was a fringe player in 2003, was injured during the 2007 quarter-final loss to France and missed the late stages of the victorious 2011 campaign with another injury.
Niggles to his ankle, calf and hamstrings over the past two seasons prompted the move, which he says is ideal timing given the World Cup in England will still be 15 months away upon his return.
He had briefly considered using his break to play overseas, as he did in 2009 when injury cut short a lucrative “sabbatical” at French club Perpignan.
“It just wasn’t the best option for me,” he said.
“I was at a different stage of my career. At that time, that was exactly what I needed, to motivate me and have a new challenge.
“A few years older now, looking after my body and not playing at all is the best thing for me.”
Carter ruled out speculation he would play for his small Canterbury club Southbridge.
He says he won’t travel overseas to the degree McCaw did this year, instead preferring to stay in New Zealand with the “bonus” of spending more time with wife Honor and five-month-old son Marco.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the timing and length of Carter’s break is “perfect” to lengthen his career while Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder says he recognises the long-term benefit.
“It is a great opportunity for him to re-energise and also provides a great opportunity for some of our very talented, younger first-fives to step up to the plate next season,” Blackadder said.
Carter, who has played 95 Tests, is signed with New Zealand rugby until the end of 2015.
The International Rugby Board player of the year in 2005 and 2012, he is the highest points-scorer in both Test rugby (1399) and Super Rugby (1547).
