Injured Carter to undergo surgery
Perpignan and All Blacks star Dan Carter said he will undergo surgery in Paris after suffering a partial rupture of his Achilles tendon.
Carter limped off the pitch on Saturday in the last minute of Perpignan's 13-13 draw with Stade Francais.
The club said the injury will keep him out of the game for six months, raising doubts over whether he'll be fit for the All Blacks when the Tri-Nations tournament begins in July.
"I'm going to be operated on Thursday in Paris," Carter told a news conference. "I'm going to be unavailable for six months.
"This is a huge disappointment for me. I was confident before the match. I took the decision to play because I felt well.
"It's the first time in my career that I'll have to take such a long break."
The injury to Carter - arguably the best rugby player in the world - is a major blow to Perpignan's hope of winning the French title.
The club signed him for 700,000 euros ($897,000) for a six-month stint, but he only played five games.
He already had an inflamed tendon and was replaced on January 10 at halftime in a Top 14 match against Bourgoin, resting for two weeks before the match against Stade Francais.
"I don't regret coming to play at (Perpignan). I discovered another type of rugby, and I like that," Carter said.
"I'm just disappointed not to be able to play a full season.
"Maybe I'll come back to play in Perpignan after the Rugby World Cup in 2011."
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