KEY POINTS:
Auckland can lay partial claim to rugby star Dan Carter - but getting him to swap the red and black for the blue and white hoops won't be so easy.
Rumour has it the world's greatest first-five eighths, despite remaining a Canterbury representative, has made Auckland his new home.
Having just opened a new clothing store in Newmarket, at least one news report named Carter as a resident of Auckland - the home of his partner, Black Sticks representative Honor Dillon.
The Herald tried to get to the bottom of where Carter now calls home (when not on a sabbatical in Perpignan, France, of course).
Dean Hegan, one of Carter's management team, said: "Dan Carter owns a house in Christchurch and plays rugby for Canterbury and the Crusaders. So he spends a lot of time ... at his residence in Christchurch.
"His partner lives in Auckland, so he spends a reasonable amount of time visiting her."
Carter does not, as yet, own a property of his own in Auckland.
Asked if Carter could be considered an Aucklander, Mr Hegan said: "He is very much a Cantabrian."
Auckland coach Shane Howarth, when asked about the thought of Carter pulling on an Auckland jersey, quipped: "We wouldn't want anyone as classy as Dan Carter playing for Auckland."
But seriously? "We would have him every day of the bloody week, but I think he has got more pressing commitments than that. I don't think we would be able to battle with the Perpignan dollar."
If he did one day take the field for Auckland, "I don't know if he would be welcome back down past the Cook Strait again", Howarth said.
Dick Tayler, of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club, said if Carter chose to play for Auckland it would be disappointing "but we don't want to go there".
