Time for Carter to hang up his boots?

UPDATE: All Blacks legend Dan Carter has given his followers on Instagram an update on his health after having surgery on his neck.

The flyhalf was due to return to French giants Racing 92 in February as a medical joker from Japanese outfit Kobelco Steelers, but failed his own medical.

Carter was due to cover for the recently retired Pat Lambie, but a neck problem prevented him from the Parisian side.

He has now had the surgery on his neck, and sent this message out on social media in a neck brace on a hospital bed:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Another challenge to conquer! Happy my neck surgery went well and now the long road to recovery starts #cervicalfusion #loveachallenge

A post shared by Dan Carter (@dancarter_) on Apr 10, 2019 at 3:09pm PDT

While this injury has quashed his chances of returning to European rugby, it does not necessarily end his rugby career. The two-time World Cup winner is still likely to return to his side in Japan, where he will be hoping to win another Top League title with the Steelers.

The 37-year-old obviously will know that the sun is setting on his glittering rugby career, but he called this “another challenge to conquer”, as he surely aims to be back on a rugby field as soon as possible.