All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter played his first rugby match since he incurred a career-threatening injury in January, playing a full game for tiny Southbridge club in New Zealand's Canterbury province on Saturday.

More than 3,000 people crowded into rural Southbridge, population 900, to watch Carter's comeback match for his "home" club against Hornby.

It was the first match Carter has played for Southbridge, a farming community on the Canterbury plains, since 2001.

Carter played all 80 minutes and later said his Achilles tendon, which was partially ruptured during a match for the French club Perpignan on January 31, had held up well.

The All Blacks' No.10 missed four of four shots of goal in the first half but said he was otherwise happy with his comeback match.

"No worries at all. It was fine. It was tested a bit on the muddy ground but no problems," he said.

"It was a lot of fun. It was good to be back playing some rugby. It's been a long road to getting the boots back on and having a game, so I really enjoyed it."

Carter's rehabilitation is progressing ahead of schedule and it is now possible he will rejoin the New Zealand team for its later matches in this year's Tri-Nations series.

New Zealand was beaten 28-19 by South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday after defeating Australia in its opening match last weekend.

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