Dan Carter has been awarded the grand prize from France’s Academie des Sports over night, a trophy given to celebrate the best sporting achievement of the year.
He is the first New Zealander to ever receive the award, which is voted on by the Academie des Sports. However, he’s in great company, with previous winners including Usain Bolt, Sebastian Vettel, Steffi Graf, Rafael Nadal and more.
Dan, who is currently in his second season with Top 14 Parisian team Racing 92, took to Twitter to share his big win.
“Thanks to the Academie des Sports members for my award tonight. Nice to be honoured alongside some of France’s best athletes,” he wrote.
It’s been almost two years since Dan, now 34, announced he would be moving to Paris to join the Racing Metro 92 club on a three-year contract, bringing wife Honor and sons Marco, 3, and one-year-old Fox.
Dan and Honor moved to France along with their two sons after the former All Black joined the Parisian Racing Metro 92 club.
In an interview with The Times in March, the former All Black said the big move had proved to be a refreshing change to his game.
“You can sometimes get set in your ways as to how things should be done. Different opinions, different insight can be only help with how you play,” he told the publication.
“Some guys thrive upon it and others don’t, probably because they are so set in stone with how they think things should be done. So it’s all about adapting and learning. It’s great for a player’s growth.”
