Rugby union’s all-time record international points scorer with 1,598 in 112 Tests between 2003-2015 – the only player to reach the 1,500 mark – Carter made his debut against Wales in Hamilton in June, 2003.
Watching at home in Neath, a young Ben Davies, aged just 10.
It’s fair to say Carter, seen as the best fly half (#10) and one of the best players to ever grace the rugby stage, made his mark on his first appearance – 20 points, including a try and six conversions, as the All Blacks stormed home 55-3.
He went on to do it all, including winning the World Cup in 2011 and 2015, when he was Man of the Match in the final and three times named World Rugby Player of the Year between 2003-2015. After almost 20 years in the sport, he retired in 2020 after spells at Racing 92 in France and Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
A huge rugby fan, Ben met Carter, one of his sporting idols, after playing the final half-hour of our 2-0 win against Auckland FC in front of 40,112 at Eden Park, a record attendance for a men’s football match in New Zealand.
He told us: “I grew up a big rugby fan, obviously, and watched Dan Carter dominate against Wales time and time again. He’s an absolute legend. I used to love watching him as a kid.
“We've done lots of big things (with Spurs), toured different places, but Eden Park's special. I’ve watched Wales play here, watched the British Lions play here, and it's a fortress for the All Blacks.
“It was really cool to play here. It's a bit strange to see all the football goals up, not the rugby posts, but it's an epic stadium, one I can probably say that not too many Welshmen have walked off the pitch winning! It was a special day.”