Dan Carter - single, or not?

All Black first five-eighth Dan Carter was quick to point out that he and Honor Dillon are still a couple. Picture / Simon Baker

These are two words sure to set female hearts aflutter across the country: "Dan's Single ... "

The phrase screams out from giant billboards from an ad campaign featuring All Black rugby star and heart-throb Daniel Carter.

One of them is on the side of a multi-storey central Christchurch hotel, and a billboard previously posted on the same space pictured Carter, voted New Zealand's sexiest man in a national survey, posing in his boxer shorts for a national underwear campaign that grabbed the attention of countless passing motorists.

The new billboard, even without the eye candy, was immediately getting attention yesterday.

"I think there is only one Dan ... as far as females are concerned anyway," one female onlooker said.

Unfortunately for his hordes of female fans, the phrase will prove to be nothing more than a big tease.

Dan the Man recently returned from an overseas holiday with his girlfriend, New Zealand hockey representative Honor Dillon.

Through a Canterbury rugby spokesman, Carter confirmed yesterday that he and Honor were still a happy couple, and indeed he was not on the singles market.

The Herald understands the "Dan's Single ... " billboard will be up for a week before being replaced by the next stage in a campaign promoting a range of singlets.

A campaign launch involving Carter, sporting a new hairstyle that drew a comment from a Sky Sport rugby commentator on Saturday night, was scheduled for next week.

Aside from his visual appeal, Carter, nicknamed DC or Dezzy, is rated by many as the world's best first-five eighths at the age of only 24.

Frank Costello, of the billboard company, I-Site Media, said he was unable to comment on the new billboard without approval from the company running the campaign.

"It would spoil their surprise," Mr Costello said.

Pacific Brands - the company using Carter to promote its Jockey brand - could not be reached for comment yesterday.