All Blacks great Dan Carter has formally parted ways with the Kobe Kobelco Steelers, the Japan Top League club confirmed Friday.
Carter had already bid rugby fans in Japan a subtle farewell in mid-April via Instagram, paying tribute to his brief time with the Steelers at the end of the truncated domestic season.
The three-time World Rugby Player of the Year made a big impact in Kobe, leading the club to the Top League championship in 2018-2019, a first triumph since the 2003-2004 campaign. That first season also saw him named Top League MVP and Top Kicker.
This year's season, delayed to allow players a break following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, was cut short after only six rounds were played due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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