It is a
massive blow for both the player and the club, which coughed
up a huge financial deal just to secure the Kiwi's services
for a high-profile six month 'sabbatical'.
The
26-year-old was injured in the closing stages of Perpignan's
13-13 away draw at Stade Francais, having helped the
Catalans secure the tie by setting up a late try and then
kicking the conversion and a 78th-minute penalty.
But it
is now looking as though Perpignan's lucrative gamble on
Carter has backfired spectacularly with the New Zealander
having played just five games since arriving in December.
During
that time he missed three of the club's four Heineken Cup
matches as they failed to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Having missed out on European glory the Catalans were hoping
that Carter would at least be able to lead them through to
the Top 14 play-offs, and hopefully beyond.
Instead
Perpignan will now be picking over the bones from a deal
that cost them 700,000 euros for five games of rugby - or
140,000 euros per game. During that time he has played 361
minutes of rugby and scored 45 points.
Perpignan spokesman Benoit Braze admitted that Carter's
French sojourn is now finished, with concerned All Blacks
coaches set to ponder the wisdom of granting their star
player special dispensation to ply his trade in Top 14.
"He has
suffered a partial tear to his Achilles tendon - an injury
that could keep him out of action for up to six months,"
confirmed Braze. "Carter's run with Perpignan is now over.
It's a big disappointment for him and also for the club.
"He has
our support and the best possible medical help at his
disposal. Our doctors and those of the All Blacks will now
be put in contact to decided whether he will be operated on
in France or elsewhere. At the moment he is in plaster and
resting at home."
The Kiwi
number 10 is now likely to miss the start of the Tri-Nations
tournament but All Blacks manager Darren Sand has rejected
talk that Perpignan were in any way to blame for Carter's
injury, saying the French club had been very open with the
NZRU over the player's condition.
Fellow
New Zealander Kelleher was also injured on Saturday, being
forced off the pitch in the 68th minute as Toulouse went
down to Biarritz 17-13. The 32-year-old sustained a sprained
left knee while being tackled and now looks set to be out
for up to six weeks.
