Carter's new deal to stay a Crusader

The New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has signed a new deal to stay with the Canterbury Crusaders until 2011. Carter had been linked with a move to the Auckland Blues in recent weeks, but has decided to remain at his home town club. "We are absolutely delighted to be able to re-sign Dan until after the next Rugby World Cup," the Canterbury chief executive Hamish Riach said. "While there has been speculation about Dan's future provincial union, our discussions have been positive and constructive throughout and have lead to this agreement."

Meanwhile, New Zealand's assistant coach Steve Hansen admits his new-look loose forward trio face another challenging outing this weekend against France. The forwards were blasted off the ball by their French counterparts in last weekend's 27-22 loss and now a hand injury to Adam Thomson has forced a reshuffle in the back row, already shorn of Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo. * PA Sport