Dan Carter and Richie McCaw take on All Blacks coaching role

Designated as Lipovitan Ambassadors as per their sponsorship agreement, these two icons have been conducting coaching clinics for gifted young athletes since their partnership began in 2022.

They said: "We believe that the popularity of rugby has increased in Japan since the Rugby World Cup was held in Japan in 2019.

"Through our role as ambassadors, we would like to share our experiences with people in Japan and contribute to the development of rugby in Japan. We look forward to seeing you in Japan."

Carter commented on Instagram: "Always a great time heading to Japan with @richiemccaw! Awesome coaching the next gen rugby stars at the All Blacks Rugby Clinic presented by Lipovitan."

McCaw wrote on Instagram: "Nice to be back in Japan with @dancarter_."

Carter and McCaw have now both hung up their boots so they can speak a little more openly than they may have during their long and successful careers.

Carter said: "He bowled me over about 5m when I tried to tackle him in one of my first games. A superstar. Gutted I never played with him."

McCaw said: "When I first became an All Black he was in the team. To play alongside a guy you have watched as a young fella was pretty amazing. He made me look silly in training more than once”

DID YOU KNOW? New Zealand sevens star Eric Rush played a touch game with Lomu when he was 14 years old and was so impressed he invited him to a sevens tournament in Singapore the next day

MCCAW SAID: "Over the years I've played him a few times and you always know he's there. He was always pretty big defensively and in the breakdown area. A menace"

CARTER SAID: "He had some blinding games in big moments — none more so than in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup games against the All Blacks."

DID YOU KNOW? He broke the record for most tackles in a match, making 38 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup

CARTER SAID: "You might of heard of him? Former England captain and Toulon player Jonny is probably the closest thing I've seen to the perfect rugby player."

MCCAW SAID: "He'll go down as one of the greats of world rugby.”

DID YOU KNOW? Wilkinson's brother, Mark, was also a Newcastle player who made 16 appearances in the Premiership for the side between 2002 and 2005, predominantly as a centre

MCCAW SAID: "You can come up against another tough team but never feel like you have had a tough match against your opposite. But with Burger you knew where they are going to be and how hard they play near the ball."

CARTER SAID: "I kept looking at my All Black jersey wondering if I had a target like in the middle of the jersey or something because he kept coming for me. He was having a huge battle with our big forward pack. He just kept going. He didn’t stop. He was physical and just his leg drive was incredible. A real competitor and absolute top bloke off the field as well. His mindset was a little bit different when he was out there competing. That just made him such a tough opponent to come up against.”

McCaw said: "Smith was always pretty tough. I remember playing him when I was in the under 19s against Australia and remember then thinking just what a good player he is. I've never seen a guy as gifted in all facets of the game.”

Carter said: "I used to hate playing this guy because he was so bloody good. A true legend of the game."