Rugby: Coach Carter on the way back

Daniel Carter has been doing a little coaching for French team Perpignan. Photo / Getty Images

Daniel Carter has found a new role while he recovers from serious injury - he's coached the Perpignan backs for a couple of sessions.

The All Black first five would hardly call himself a coach or suggest he's had much influence, but his Perpignan team-mates have appreciated his input all the same.

Carter, who is now able to jog and complete light aerobic sessions, has been desperate to make a contribution to the Mediterranean club. Perpignan paid close to €700,000 ($1.6 million) to have Carter for 20 games this year but a serious achilles injury in late January ended his playing involvement.

The 59-cap Carter chose to rehabilitate in France so he could enjoy the lifestyle trappings which were a major factor in his decision to sign for a six-month sabbatical.

Once he came out of his moon boot and was more mobile, he wanted to explore ways he could more directly help the club.

Lou Thompson, who is a director at Essentially Group which looks after Carter's interests, said: "He was going to do a little bit of coaching. He's done a few sessions but not a lot and I certainly don't think he would be comfortable being described as a coach.

"But he's recovering well, doing a little bit of jogging on the running machine."

Whether it's the influence of Carter or not, certainly things are going right for the club. They finished the regular French season in first place, earning a semi-final against the Ewen McKenzie-coached Stade Francais.

Should they win that game next weekend - the French play their semifinals at neutral venues - they will play either Toulouse or the Vern Cotter-coached Clermont in the final.

Carter is expected back in New Zealand after the final where he will continue his rehabilitation with a view to playing in the provincial championships later in the year and then returning to Europe in November with the All Blacks.

While his playing experience didn't work out the way he would have liked, Carter's time in France has been worthwhile. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, he spoke of how refreshing it has been to be out of the spotlight in Europe.

"I'd been a part of the All Black and Crusader set-ups for six years," he told the paper. "They are pretty draining environments. I got a lot of satisfaction but I just needed a change. The six months have been perfect. Half the reason for coming has been the change in lifestyle, as well as a different rugby competition to test myself up against.

"Five games in and I get injured. That was extremely tough but I still have the chance of living over here. I know it sounds bad but the only way to get away from the spotlight is an injury like this so you have to turn things around and look positively, and I'm doing that and making the most of this forced break, which no one likes to do, but it has been good for me."

The All Black coaches will think so, too, as they empowered Carter and other senior players to have greater in-put into All Black training sessions and the game-plan.