Dan Carter's surprise visit to Dublin schoolboy's rugby practice

Dan Carter's visit to St Mary's College in Dublin earlier this month - part of an ad campaign with global supermarket chain Aldi - was published on the company's YouTube channel. Photo / Twitter

Former All Blacks star Dan Carter has surprised a schoolboy rugby team in Dublin and proved to be as big a hit as Ireland's own star kicker.

Carter's visit to St Mary's College in Dublin earlier this month - part of an ad campaign with global supermarket chain Aldi - was published on the company's YouTube channel yesterday, just in time for St Patrick's Day.

He greeted the team as they walked on to the school's rugby field, saying: " ... keen to see what you boys are up to".

He then watched them kick for goal and gave out some tips.

Carter later joined the team as they entered the school hall to cheers.

Interviewed afterwards, one of the St Mary's College team members said: "We walked on to the pitch and we could only see the back of some guy. I thought it was [Irish first five-eighth] Jonny Sexton. But it was Dan Carter ... It was unbelievable."

The school later tweeted a photo of Carter with members of the team and said: "Very privileged to have you in St. Mary's today. Thank you for your words of wisdom to the boys."

@DanCarter Very privileged to have you in St. Mary's today. Thank you for your words of wisdom to the boys. pic.twitter.com/xaEosGYm3B

— St Mary's College 🇸🇴 (@StMarysCSSp) March 10, 2016

He also received one of the school's rugby jerseys with his name on the back.

Dan Carter receiving St Mary's College rugby shirt today. @DanCarter @StMarysRFC @leinsterrugby pic.twitter.com/tCNfJr1FjB

— stmarysjunior (@StMarysJunior) March 10, 2016

Carter replied: "Your big team are making me look tiny. Great to meet them all today."

Carter is living and playing rugby in Paris for professional French club side Racing Metro.