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How the Elton John Show almost led Dan Carter to join NFL powerhouse
By Finn Morton
After watching the Elton John Show at the world-famous Madison Square Garden, legendary All Black Dan Carter was given an opportunity to realise a “childhood dream.”
No, Carter wasn’t given the chance to become a ‘Rocket Man’ and to venture into the great unknown – but for a man from Southbridge New Zealand, what followed was just as surreal.
The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning flyhalf was approached by the now six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, and was asked whether he’d like to see their facilities.
Carter thought he was going to Patriot Place for a tour when he made the trip north to Foxborough, Massachusetts, and it’s true that the 112-Test All Black got to do just that.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Carter ended up meeting Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and was left stunned when the billionaire asked him, “What are you going to bring to the team?”
“I was in New York, Madison Square Garden, watching the Elton John Show,” Carter said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Australia.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, do you want to come to the Patriots and have a look at their facilities?’ “I said, ‘Oh yeah, love to.’ Thought I was going to have a tour (but) they’d obviously done some research and seen I could kick a ball.
“So I rock up there and they go, ‘Right, we want to see if you can kick an American Football.’ I said, ‘Oh I’ve just injured my Achilles, I can’t.’
“They go, ‘Oh the owner wants to talk to you.’ I was like, ‘Oh that’s nice, Robert Kraft is going to welcome me to the facilities, that’s nice of him, I’m sure he’s a busy man.’
“Walk into his office, ‘How long have you wanted to play in the NFL? What are you going to bring to the team?’
“I’m like, ‘Woah s***, childhood dream, bit of an outside of the box story and I just b********** this, if felt like an interview.
He goes, ‘Right, the head of scouting wants to have a word with you.’ We talked about different kickers in the competition, the importance of technique and good kickers and bad kickers in the game.
“Eventually I got my tour, amazing facilities, and then I left – they gave me a ball. They’re like, ‘We want to see some video footage of you kicking this and if we think you’ve got potential you come to try-outs next year.’
“I always used to joke with my mates (that a) goal kicker in American Football, that’s my retirement plan… I tried to kick an American Football and I was hopeless.”
In a way, Dan Carter’s NFL dream was over before it really began. The All Black didn’t end up trialing with the Patriots, and instead took his talents to France.
Carter remained in rugby, and added to his decorated legacy during a successful stint with Paris-based club Racing 92.
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Latest Comments
The appearances of Hansen & Foster in media recently smack of history revision.
Foster's prior eight years international test experience when he took over counted for little. By mid-2022, an overall win rate in the low 60s caused NZR to intervene. Foster's ABs had been reduced to a laughing stock.
Joe Schmidt became a selector in 2022 & was given an expanded role as Foster's mentor. Rugby NZ clearly had coaching concerns.
After the well documented sackings Schmidt & Ryan joined Foster's coaching team. It was from that point, the ABs began to show signs of improvement. And nearly won the RWC. In spite of Foster in my opinion.
Go to commentsWe know precisely who this Xmas gift was for, Nick. I've got out the red wine, a cigar and have my feet up. Let the fun begin.
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