Retiring ex-Wallabies lock eager for one more hurrah
Carter told his Western Force teammates of his decision to hang up the boots prior to last week's golden-point loss to the NSW Waratahs.
But the 35-year-old has one more game left in him - with Carter keen to line up for the Force in the June 28 showdown with the British and Irish Lions at Optus Stadium.
"I'm really keen to be involved in the Lions match later this month," Carter said in a statement.
"I think the British and Irish Lions are one of the things that make rugby so special and unique.
"After that, my family and I are planning to take some time off to reassess what the next chapter looks like for us."
Carter called time following a brilliant playing career that saw him earn 16 caps for the Wallabies, including being part of the side's 2015 World Cup squad.
The towering lock played 132 Super Rugby games after debuting for the ACT Brumbies in 2011.
He played 122 times for the Brumbies (2011-2019) and added another 10 caps at the Force since joining them in 2024.
During his time at the Brumbies, Carter was a club co-captain, won the side's best forward award and earned Rugby Australia's Academic Achievement Award in 2018.
Carter also spent five years in Europe with Ulster (2019-2023) and Leicester Tigers (2023-2024) between his Super Rugby stints.
The father of two said it was the right time to retire.
"I've come to a point where I feel ready to step away from rugby after 14 years in the professional game," he said.
"One of the big highlights for me was making my debut for the Wallabies in 2014, something I had dreamed of since I was a kid."
Former Wallabies lock Sam Carter has announced his retirement from professional rugby, but he wants to have one final hurrah against the British and Irish Lions later this month.
Carter told his Western Force teammates of his decision to hang up the boots prior to last week's golden-point loss to the NSW Waratahs.
But the 35-year-old has one more game left in him - with Carter keen to line up for the Force in the June 28 showdown with the British and Irish Lions at Optus Stadium.
"I'm really keen to be involved in the Lions match later this month," Carter said in a statement.
"I think the British and Irish Lions are one of the things that make rugby so special and unique.
"After that, my family and I are planning to take some time off to reassess what the next chapter looks like for us."
Carter called time following a brilliant playing career that saw him earn 16 caps for the Wallabies, including being part of the side's 2015 World Cup squad.
The towering lock played 132 Super Rugby games after debuting for the ACT Brumbies in 2011.
He played 122 times for the Brumbies (2011-2019) and added another 10 caps at the Force since joining them in 2024.
During his time at the Brumbies, Carter was a club co-captain, won the side's best forward award and earned Rugby Australia's Academic Achievement Award in 2018.
Carter also spent five years in Europe with Ulster (2019-2023) and Leicester Tigers (2023-2024) between his Super Rugby stints.
The father of two said it was the right time to retire.
"I've come to a point where I feel ready to step away from rugby after 14 years in the professional game," he said.
"One of the big highlights for me was making my debut for the Wallabies in 2014, something I had dreamed of since I was a kid."
Former Wallabies lock Sam Carter has announced his retirement from professional rugby, but he wants to have one final hurrah against the British and Irish Lions later this month.
Carter told his Western Force teammates of his decision to hang up the boots prior to last week's golden-point loss to the NSW Waratahs.
But the 35-year-old has one more game left in him - with Carter keen to line up for the Force in the June 28 showdown with the British and Irish Lions at Optus Stadium.
"I'm really keen to be involved in the Lions match later this month," Carter said in a statement.
"I think the British and Irish Lions are one of the things that make rugby so special and unique.
"After that, my family and I are planning to take some time off to reassess what the next chapter looks like for us."
Carter called time following a brilliant playing career that saw him earn 16 caps for the Wallabies, including being part of the side's 2015 World Cup squad.
The towering lock played 132 Super Rugby games after debuting for the ACT Brumbies in 2011.
He played 122 times for the Brumbies (2011-2019) and added another 10 caps at the Force since joining them in 2024.
During his time at the Brumbies, Carter was a club co-captain, won the side's best forward award and earned Rugby Australia's Academic Achievement Award in 2018.
Carter also spent five years in Europe with Ulster (2019-2023) and Leicester Tigers (2023-2024) between his Super Rugby stints.
The father of two said it was the right time to retire.
"I've come to a point where I feel ready to step away from rugby after 14 years in the professional game," he said.
"One of the big highlights for me was making my debut for the Wallabies in 2014, something I had dreamed of since I was a kid."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
38 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions hooker banned for four matches after ‘reckless' and illegal hit on Lynagh
British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has been banned for four matches for his illegal hit on Wallabies five-eighth Tom Lynagh, reduced to three upon successful completion of 'coaching intervention' according to World Rugby, who released a disciplinary update on Monday evening. Sheehan escaped any on-field punishment from referee Nika Amashukeli or TMO Marius Jonker after elbowing Wallabies five-eighth Lynagh in the head during the third Test in Sydney while the Australian player was prone at a ruck. The Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) that reviewed the incident was chaired by Wang Shao-Ing (Singapore), former international player, Mike Mika (New Zealand), and former match official, Valeriu Toma (Romania). The FPRC determined that Sheehan's actions were contrary to Law 9.20(a) (charging into a ruck or maul) and noted the Irish international 'had not accepted that foul play occurred and did not accept that the offence warranted the citing.' The committee also found Sheehan's actions 'reckless' and stated 'his action amounted to a high degree of danger and that no mitigation applied'. Lynagh was forced from the field after 33 minutes for an HIA which he ultimately failed, after Sheehan had charged at the prone playmaker at a ruck. Lynagh is now at risk of missing out on the Wallabies upcoming Tests in South Africa in the Rugby Championship. Sheehan tucked a shoulder to clean Lynagh out, and then made contact with the playmaker's head with his elbow after approaching the ruck from a distance. The young playmaker endured physical treatment from the Lions, also getting taken out in the air by English breakaway Tom Curry in the first Test in Brisbane. Sheehan will now miss up to four games for his club Leinster, including three in the United Rugby Championship, although that will be reduced by one if the hooker completes coaching intervention.
The Age
38 minutes ago
- The Age
Lions hooker banned for four matches after ‘reckless' and illegal hit on Lynagh
British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has been banned for four matches for his illegal hit on Wallabies five-eighth Tom Lynagh, reduced to three upon successful completion of 'coaching intervention' according to World Rugby, who released a disciplinary update on Monday evening. Sheehan escaped any on-field punishment from referee Nika Amashukeli or TMO Marius Jonker after elbowing Wallabies five-eighth Lynagh in the head during the third Test in Sydney while the Australian player was prone at a ruck. The Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) that reviewed the incident was chaired by Wang Shao-Ing (Singapore), former international player, Mike Mika (New Zealand), and former match official, Valeriu Toma (Romania). The FPRC determined that Sheehan's actions were contrary to Law 9.20(a) (charging into a ruck or maul) and noted the Irish international 'had not accepted that foul play occurred and did not accept that the offence warranted the citing.' The committee also found Sheehan's actions 'reckless' and stated 'his action amounted to a high degree of danger and that no mitigation applied'. Lynagh was forced from the field after 33 minutes for an HIA which he ultimately failed, after Sheehan had charged at the prone playmaker at a ruck. Lynagh is now at risk of missing out on the Wallabies upcoming Tests in South Africa in the Rugby Championship. Sheehan tucked a shoulder to clean Lynagh out, and then made contact with the playmaker's head with his elbow after approaching the ruck from a distance. The young playmaker endured physical treatment from the Lions, also getting taken out in the air by English breakaway Tom Curry in the first Test in Brisbane. Sheehan will now miss up to four games for his club Leinster, including three in the United Rugby Championship, although that will be reduced by one if the hooker completes coaching intervention.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Giteau Law ‘redundant' as Wallabies look to build on Lions success
Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne says the controversial Giteau Law is 'kind of redundant,' leaving Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt free to pick his strongest squad for The Rugby Championship. Schmidt is expected to name his squad on Thursday before the Wallabies fly to South Africa on Saturday to take on the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town on August 16 and 23. Schmidt has consistently favoured players who ply their trade in Australia, unless an overseas-based player is considered demonstrably stronger than the domestic alternative. The so-called 'Giteau Law' was last tweaked in 2022. Players need to have 30 Test caps or five years' service to Australian rugby to be eligible to be picked while playing overseas, with a limit of three picks a series. Former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell was a beneficiary of the first iteration of the law in 2015 when he was selected for Australia in the World Cup while playing for Toulon in France. Horne said hypothetically that there was now nothing to stop Schmidt picking an overseas international rookie, such as Northampton star Josh Kemeny, who has played just two Tests for the Wallabies, giving the New Zealander further flexibility in his selections. 'I think we've been pretty open. Joe [Schmidt] has got no impediment to select whoever he wants; that's always been the case,' Horne said. 'The Giteau Law, it's kind of redundant, right? Though the reality is, if he wants to pick, I don't know, Josh Kemeny from Northampton, that's his call.
