All Black Dan Carter has suggested that he is giving serious consideration to playing in the Guinness Premiership. Carter has one year left on his current contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, and says that when it expires he will "make a decision on where I want my career to head.

"I really enjoy playing over here [in England] - there are great crowds and great people," Carter said, "It's something I'm going to have to have a good think about as I consider where I want my career to head. But it's definitely on the cards for the future." Such a move would make Carter ineligible for the All Blacks, who have a policy of not picking players who are based overseas.

That has not stopped several high-profile All Black players coming to England, tempted by the lucrative contracts on offer. Since the World Cup Chris Jack has come to Saracens, Luke McAlister has joined Sale, Carl Hayman has gone to Newcastle and Aaron Mauger has joined Leicester. Carter's signing would eclipse all of those deals. Voted IRB player of the year in 2005 on the back of a sensational series against the Lions, he has won 44 caps and is arguably the most valuable, not to mention marketable, player in the game.