Rugby: The $6m deal keeping Carter in black

Carter has played 79 tests and should reach the coveted century mark after signing the four-year deal. Photo / Getty Images

Daniel Carter knocked back lucrative overseas deals but will collect an annual income of about $1.5 million as he pursues his All Black career.

The first five-eighths will also stay in the race to reach 100 All Black test caps, chasing skipper Richie McCaw and fullback Mils Muliaina who are equal top with 94 international appearances.

Carter has played 79 tests and, injury and sabbatical permitting, should reach the coveted century mark after signing a four-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union. The deal announced yesterday is believed to be worth $6 million over four years - and Carter can earn more in sabbaticals.

Carter and McCaw are already on annual millionaire incomes as the highest-paid All Blacks, with their packages made up of a mix of wages and sponsorships.

However the twin jewels in the All Black armoury reached that status at least a decade after superstar wing Jonah Lomu breached the seven-figure annual income.

The Essentially Group, which represents Carter and also markets and sells sponsorship for the All Blacks, stitched together the latest deal with Dunedin lawyer and longtime sports agent Warren Alcock.

The NZRU was unable to compete with the financial packages offered by overseas clubs but they offered the certainty of a four-year contract and in the past few months raised their efforts to clinch the deal.

The 29-year-old Carter had been tempted by an array of offshore offers to follow the stint he had with French club Perpignan in 2008. Sometimes he thought he would leave after the World Cup but then he wavered.

He had been weighing up those choices for the past six months but yesterday revealed his time and career with the All Blacks swayed the deal to take him to the 2015 World Cup.

"I guess the underlining factor is the black jersey," Carter said yesterday. "It means a lot to me and the more I thought about potentially playing overseas and not being able to represent my country and wear that black jersey was pretty challenging.

"I realise it is not a given to play for the All Blacks and there's a lot of young guys coming through in the next couple of years who will be in their prime so that's a challenge, too, and one I'm looking forward to."

Under the deal, Carter can take time out or play rugby in Europe again and he said that flexibility influenced his decision.

Carter started his test career in 2003 as a second five-eighths outside Carlos Spencer before switching to run the backline in 2004.

His 2008 sabbatical with Perpignan lasted five games before he ruptured his Achilles tendon and was sidelined for six months.

"I haven't looked at anything at all like whether I went back to Europe or to Japan or even just took a break," he said yesterday.

"I'm really happy playing my rugby here at the moment and I'm looking to continue that for now."

The deal keeps Carter with the Crusaders.

"I've got great security in my life moving forward and I love my time here in New Zealand, there's no better place in the world."

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said: "I think in most people's opinion he's the best player currently in his position and he's likely to be one of the greatest All Blacks of our time so to have him stay is a big day for New Zealand rugby, a big day for the All Blacks."