New Zealand star Daniel Carter today took part in his first training session with French side Perpignan.
The All Blacks fly-half trained for an hour and a half with the members of the USAP squad who did not play a part in Saturday's 38-27 defeat to Leicester in the Heineken Cup.
Carter, who has signed a seven-month contract with the Catalan club, then made his way to the city's town hall where he was welcomed by mayor Jean-Paul Alduy.
A spectator in the stands at Welford Road at the weekend, Carter is set to make his much-anticipated debut for Perpignan on Sunday in the return fixture against the Tigers.
Carter, in his first major interview with the French media, told television station France 2 yesterday that he hoped to become a better all-round player by the time his short-term stint with USAP comes to an end next summer.
He said: ‘Obviously there are the goals of winning the Top 14 and getting to the latter stages of the Heineken Cup.
‘Those are the team goals, but personally I want to improve my rugby and playing in a competition I am not used to is really going to challenge me.
‘Hopefully I will become a better player with this experience.
‘I saw the game (against Leicester) and got a bit of the taste of the style of rugby we play and I'm
looking forward to being a part of it next weekend.
‘Playing in the Heineken Cup was a big part of my decision. My first match will be in that competition and I can't wait.’
