Rugby
Carter's season is over
2009-02-01 19:01
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Carter faces injury lay-off
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Perpignan - All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter was on Sunday ruled out for the rest of the French season because of an Achilles tendon injury having played just five matches for Perpignan.
"It is a partial tear of the Achilles tendon which means he will be unavailable for around six months," said spokesman Benoit Brazes.
The 26-year-old Carter, who was signed by the Catalan club on a lucrative six-month deal worth a reported 35,000 euros a match was hurt in Saturday's 13-13 draw with Stade Francais.
His brief stay with the French side, which began in December, was plagued by injury and his time on the pitch amounted to just 361 playing minutes.
"It's a huge disappointment especially for him, for the club," added Brazes.
"Now we are going to do our best possible to get him healthy again. Our doctor will be in contact with the medical staff of the All Blacks to decide whether or not he will undergo surgery in France.
"At the monent he is in plaster and is at home. He underwent an examination on Sunday morning (in Paris) and returned with us by plane."
Carter now faces a major battle to be fit for the Tri-Nations which gets underway on July 18 when the All Blacks face Australia in Auckland.
On Saturday, Carter, who hit two penalties and converted Maxime Mermoz's try in front of 80,000 people at the Stade de France, was making his return to the Perpignan side after a three-week absence because of an earlier Achilles tendon injury.
Coach Jacques Brunel paid tribute to Carter's performance.
"He was lively, challenging and worked well with the centres and set up the try with a well-judged kick. He is having more and more influence on the game and feels better and better in the team," said Brunel.
Carter's fellow All Black Byron Kelleher was also facing a lengthy absence after suffering a serious knee sprain playing for Toulouse in the French club's 17-13 defeat at Biarritz.
The 32-year-old scrum-half came off the pitch in the 68th minute after his left leg buckled under a heavy tackle and was replaced by Gaffie Du Toit.
Kelleher, capped 57 times by the All Blacks, will undergo tests at the start of next week to judge the seriousness of the injury.