Carter to have ankle surgery

Wellington - All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter will have surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle.

Carter limped from the field during New Zealand's Test against England at Twickenham on November 18 and All Blacks team doctor Tony Page said the 31-year-old flyhalf was suffering "wear and tear" in his right Achilles tendon.

Page said "separately from that, Dan has some bone spurs in the same ankle which need to be removed so he will have an operation for that. This is similar to what he had done a few years ago."

Carter has begun a six-month break from rugby and will not rejoin his Crusaders Super Rugby side until July.