A drink driving charge has proved costly for Dan Carter after the car manufacturer Land Rover cut ties with the All Blacks fly-half following what he termed “a massive error of judgement” in Paris last week.
Carter, the all-time leading points scorer in Test rugby, was pulled over near the Champs-Élysées in the west of the French capital where he blew twice the legal limit.
The charge has hit Carter hard in his pocket, with the fly-half confirming on Tuesday the British motoring brand had pulled out of a contract he signed in September last year.
“Over the last few days my management and I have had to front up to my sponsors,” he said. “Not surprisingly, Land Rover, who for good reason have zero tolerance towards drink driving, have ended their relationship with me. I understand this completely and am disappointed I put them in this position.”
The 34-year-old, who plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14 competition, is currently injured and returned to New Zealand after the incident. He said he has since had time to reflect on his actions. “Seeing the family again puts fresh perspective on just how big a mistake I made,” he said.
Carter is facing a court appearance over the charges, which take some of the shine off the squeaky-clean image he has cultivated during a hugely successful career on the pitch.
For years the pin-up boy of New Zealand rugby, he ended his international career following the All Blacks’ victorious World Cup final against Australia in 2015 with a record tally of 1,598 points to his name.
He signed a big-money deal with Racing in Paris, where he won last year’s Top 14 title.
