All Blacks legend Dan Carter has opened up about his drink-driving charge earlier this year.
The two-time World Cup winning first five-eighth, who moved to France to play for Racing 92 at the end of 2015, told the the Devlin Radio Show thinking about the February incident made him "feel sick".
"I felt like I let a lot of people down and still feel pretty sick about it," he said.
"It's not about the punishment that the judge gives you or the fine or anything like that, it's actually the potential consequences that really hit home for you. It actually made me feel sick and it makes me feel sick now, thinking and talking about it."
Police, who said Carter was also speeding and not carrying his driver's licence, stopped him in Paris near the Champs-Elysees.
He had excessive blood-alcohol, endured public humiliation and lost a lucrative sponsorship with a car company after the incident.
"As much as I'd like to say I've moved on from it, it's something I'll have to live with for the rest of my life. I'm very fortunate that the consequences weren't a lot worse than they could have potentially been," he told the Devlin Radio Show.
"It's something I'll have to live with and something I've learned a very big lesson from and something I'm not proud of."
The 35-year-old lost his license for five months and is now back behind the wheel.
Carter, who played 112 tests for the All Blacks and 141 games for the Crusaders, is in the final year of a three-season contract with Racing 92, understood to be worth NZ$2 million a year.
The Cantabrian also spoke about his future, admitting he was weighing up whether to keep playing overseas or return home to New Zealand with his family.
"I'm kind of going through those thoughts at the moment, whether I stay, whether I look at other opportunities. Home, New Zealand, is where the family is and family is a big part of my life," he told the Devlin Radio Show.
"They are decisions that I'm weighing up at the moment. It doesn't make it easier. I'm not young and single anymore, when all you're thinking about is where you're going to be playing next and when your next pay cheque was."
Carter's last test for the All Blacks was the 2015 World Cup final against Australia in London, a match he played a key part in winning.
He had a fine first season with Racing 92, but battled a couple of injuries last year and wasn't near his best.
It's still early days in the new northern hemisphere season, but Carter said his body feels good for what could be his final season playing in the French Top 14.
"Seriously, every week in this French competition you're coming up against good friends, ex-teammates, ex All Blacks," he said.
"I'm actually up against Victor Vito (La Rochelle) [this weekend], so a great chance to go combat with him for 80 minutes and then catch up with him and see how he's enjoying his French lifestyle."
Photo: GETTY IMAGES Caption: Former All Black Dan Carter.