The most talked-about sabbatical in world rugby has officially begun.

All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter took part in his first training session with French side Perpignan on Tuesday, kick-starting a six-month contract with the Catalan club.

He will make his debut against Leicester Tigers in a home European Cup match on Sunday.

"Obviously there are the goals of winning the Top 14 and getting to the latter stages of the Heineken Cup," Carter told television station France 2.

"Those are the team goals, but personally I want to improve my rugby and playing in a competition I am not used to is really going to challenge me."

It was a low-key session with players not involved in Perpignan's 28-37 European Cup loss away to Leicester over the weekend.

The 26-year-old, having just completed advertising work with the All Blacks in Italy, watched that match from the grandstand and said it gave him a taste of what to expect in the European club top flight.

Carter signed autographs after training and attended a welcome ceremony at the Town Hall with Mayor Jean-Paul Alduy.

Carter will line up against former Crusaders and New Zealand backline playmaker Aaron Mauger, who scored one of Leicester's four tries on Saturday.

Mauger will advise his teammates of what to expect from the new Perpignan Number 10.

"It will be good to catch up with Danny, it's been a while," said Mauger, who played alongside Carter in 21 of his 45 tests.

"He is a really talented player with all the skills, but what most people don't realise is that he's also incredibly strong. If anybody goes in half-hearted on him, they'll soon find out."

A sellout crowd of 14,600 is anticipated at the Stade Aime Giral on Sunday.

In a deal signed off by the New Zealand Rugby Union, Carter's lucrative contract will end in May, when he returns to New Zealand and - form and fitness permitting - is available for the All Blacks' home tests against France and Italy in June.

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