The Paris terror attacks have given Dan Carter pause for thought but the retired All Blacks first five-eighth remains excited about his pending move to France on Thursday.
Carter is currently travelling around New Zealand promoting the launch of his new book Dan Carter: My Story, before joining Paris-based side Racing Metro next week on a lucrative deal reportedly worth about $3 million a season.
The side's Champions Cup clash with the Glasgow Warriors was due to be played on Sunday at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir outside Paris but was postponed following Saturday's terrorist attacks.
Carter said it had been difficult not to think of the horrific events ahead of his family's arrival in the French capital.
"It's hard not to avoid that, but I haven't really thought too much about it apart from the fact our thoughts go out to all the people living in Paris. It's such a tragic moment," Carter told 3News.
The 33-year-old previously played for French club Perpignan in the 2007-08 season, during a New Zealand Rugby sanctioned sabbatical, before he ruptured an Achilles tendon a few matches into the contract.
The decision to return to France in the twilight of his career was made easier knowing he would be embarking on the journey with his wife Honor and two young children.
"It's made easier by having family to support you. That was a big part of my decision to go," Carter told Radio New Zealand today.
"I'm looking forward to what's next in my life and it's pretty exciting times ahead."
Carter ended his All Blacks career earlier this month with a man of the match performance in the Rugby World Cup final victory over Australia, kicking 19 points in the 34-17 victory.
He said the realisation that his time in the black jersey was over would not sink in until next year, when he will watch his old teammates in action without him.
"When I sit down to watch the All Blacks play, I think those will be the tough moments when I realise I'm no longer an All Black."