Cape Town - An 'absolutely gutted' Dan Carter has confirmed that he will be unable to attend the inaugural Cape Town Tens rugby tournament, after picking up a serious Achilles Tendon injury at the weekend.

Carter, who is currently on a sabbatical from New Zealand rugby at French club Perpignan, will be out of action for six months after suffering the injury in the 79th minute of his team's 13-13 Top 14 draw against Stade Français in Paris.

In a double blow for the 26-year-old All Blacks star - who just last week had signed up to join the Cape Town Tens party as a tournament ambassador - he will also finish his intended six-month club career in France having played just five matches for the Catalan-based club.

"It was the last play of the game," said Carter, the veteran of 58 Tests for the Kiwis. "I just tried to push off my foot when suddenly it felt like somebody had kicked me in the Achilles...

"One of my first thoughts was, 'What about the Cape Town Tens?', and I sent a text to Ron Rutland from hospital telling him I had hurt myself, but I wasn't able to say for sure whether I would make the Cape Town Tens or not.

"As it turns out it was actually a partial tear of my Achilles and I will return to Paris on Thursday for surgery," he continued, "I will spend a few days there after my operation and we'll see afterwards where I will do the majority of by rehab.

"It's a real bugger; as all injuries are," he added, "but I'm confident I can make a full recovery and be back playing some good rugby for the All Blacks in a few months' time."

Whilst Carter might "stick around" in France - instead of returning to New Zealand to undergo rehabilitation - there was no hiding his disappointment at not being able to make an appearance at the first-ever Cape Town Tens.

"Injuries happen in rugby," Carter told www.capetowntens.com, "but I'm absolutely gutted that this injury has ruled me out of a trip to Cape Town and any involvement with the Cape Town Tens in 2009.

"I was really looking forward to some sunshine and enjoying the city from a social point of view for once. Next year I'll be back in New Zealand and no doubt preparing for the Super 14 with the Crusaders, but I will make an attempt to get out to the Cape Town Tens one day!

"For now, however, I'd like to wish everyone involved the best of luck ahead of the tournament," he added. "Bob Skinstad and Robbie Fleck have put a lot of work into the Cape Town Tens and I have no doubt it will be a successful event."

Whilst Carter will not be making the trip to Cape Town, his countryman Kees Meeuws is still set to arrive in the Mother City later this week - having ironically suffered a complete tear of his Achilles Tendon back in November 2008.

"Yeah, I guess Kees and I would've had plenty to talk about given our injuries," lamented Carter.

"I wouldn't wish an injury or this one in particular, on anybody, but at least Kees is still able to make it to Cape Town for the Tens. He's a lucky guy, but I'm sure he'll be a very popular visitor and I'm very jealous of him!"