Saracens join the 'get Carter' brigade
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:41
Saracens have become the latest European club to express interest in All Black flyhalf Dan Carter after his New Zealand contract comes to an end at the end of the year.
Saracens are now the third club willing to spend big money to get Carter, along with French club Toulouse and Tana Umaga's promotion-bound Toulon.
Welsh clubs the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues have also signalled their interest in Carter, though it's thought that they will not be able to compete with the substantial offers of Toulouse and Toulon.
The UK's Daily Mail have reported that Saracens, who include All Black lock Chris Jack and former Bay of Plenty star Glen Jackson, have joined the auction for the man rated the world's best No.10.
The newspaper concedes that the two south of France clubs remain favourites to land the Crusaders and All Blacks star, but "Sarries have a lot more going for them than a proven track record in capturing big-name players from the southern hemisphere".
The Mail says the Watford-based club have "extra financial clout provided by a recent investment of £8 million" and also points out that they possess "a very persuasive man in charge of the 'Get Carter' operation" in former Wallabies supremo and 2007 Springboks assistant Eddie Jones.
"The former Wallaby head coach, concentrating on recruitment before taking over the running of the club next season as director of rugby, hopes to convince the All Black flyhalf that he would be better off opting for a country where everyone speaks the same language rather than taking a larger pot of gold in France," the newspaper reported.
That will be one of the things being considered by Carter when he comes to make his decision on his future.
Carter comes off contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) at the end of the All Blacks' tour to the UK this year.
