Dan Carter to take a six month break from rugby next year

All-Black out-half and arguably the best player in the world Dan Carter has announced that he will be taking a complete break from rugby for six months next season.

Carter announced earlier today that he is taking the time off to refresh mentally and physically and is following in the footsteps of his compatriot Richie McCaw, who recently returned to rugby after a long self-imposed break and whose renewed energy for the game had a lasting impact on his Crusaders and New Zealand team-mate. Carter announced the decision on Twitter only a few hours ago and as a result will miss the majority of the Super Rugby season as well as three international tests next summer.

Decided to take an extended break for the first 6 Months of 2014 to refresh mentally & physically.Plenty of goals to achieve this year first — Dan Carter (@DanCarter) August 9, 2013

  Carter will turn 32 while he is away from the game, but will be back playing for over a year by the time the 2015 Rugby World Cup rolls around, a tournament that will have special significance for the out-half considering that he missed out on the final stages of the 2011 competition because of a groin injury while the All-Blacks claimed their first world title in over 20 years. Although both the Crusaders and the All-Blacks have squads big enough to cope with his absence for six months he’ll still be a loss to both sides but rugby fans shouldn’t fret too much; he’ll be back doing stuff like this in no time... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0g6WnS02dg