All Blacks legend Dan Carter has capped his first season in Japan with a Top League title and Most Valuable Player award.
Playing for Kobe Kobelco, the 36-year-old first-five guided his team to a resounding 55-5 win over Suntory Sungoliath in the final, after ending a successfuls stint with French Racing 92 earlier this year.
Carter converted five of the Steelers' eight tries and added a penalty at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium to also emerge as the competition's top goal-kicker, with a 86.2 percent success rate across the season.
Strangely, he missed selection for the All-Star XV, with Wild Knights first-five Takuya Yamasawa selected in the number 10 jersey.
"It's a really proud moment for someone that has had such a long career and is getting to the end of that career," said Carter.
"I play to try to benefit my team and help them win titles - it's not about individual awards like this.
"But at the same time, it's nice to know the hard work and sacrifice that I have put in this year has been recognised."
The 112-test international reflected on a season where he re-discovered the attacking flair that was a hallmark of his All Blacks career.
"I haven't played with that freedom for the last couple of years."
Former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith is director of rugby at Kobe Kobelco, with former Bay of Plenty assistant coach Dave Dillon as coach.
Other New Zealand players on the roster include former All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis, Chiefs prop Aidan Ross, and Highlanders Tom Franklin, Hayden Parker and Richard Buckman.
Franklin played the final with a broken wrist and rib, and was selected in the All-Star XV, alongside Ellis and Buckman.
Carter will return for another season with the Steelers in 2019/20.
Newshub.
