Dan Carter

Carter missed Racing's 15-12 defeat to Leinster in Bilbao due to a hamstring injury but could be fit to face either Toulouse or Castres in Lyon on May 26 in the Top 14 semi-final, according to backs coach Laurent Labit.

If not available in two weeks' time, Carter, who will leave the French side for Kobelco Steelers in Japan at the season's end, is "sure" to be fit for the June 3 final in Paris, Labit said.

The 35-year-old two-time World Cup winner who plays at Paris club Racing 92 was arrested in February on charges that can carry custodial sentences of two years.

Carter, who played 112 Tests for New Zealand, lost a sponsorship with Land Rover over the incident, which dented his image as one of rugby's most marketable players.

The athlete was pulled over and breathalysed in Paris' chic 17th arrondissement and returned a reading showing a level of 0.87mg/l, which would see a driver lose six points from their licence.

La Rochelle - France's minor premiers last season - celebrated a 16-9 home win over Racing 92 in a seventh round match on Sunday.

Carter has not played for three weeks and his absence prompted L'Equipe newspaper rugby writer Richard Escot to speculate that Racing were "undoubtedly preserving" Carter and former Springbok Patrick Lambie for upcoming European Cup matches against the Leicester Tigers and Irish province Munster.

Maxime Machenaud, who replaced Carter at first five-eighths, scored all Racing's points with three penalties to ensure a defensive bonus point.

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." 

The South African first five-eighth has been signed on a four-year contract, with the club announcing the deal on Tuesday night.

Lambie, 26, who has 56 caps for the Springboks - the last being in November, 2016, has been able to secure an early release from his contract with the Sharks Super Rugby side and will join the French side from November 1, subject to passing a medical.

"This world-class flyhalf is signed as an 'additional player' and his signature completes the Racing recruitment campaign," the club said in a statement on their website.

The 35-year-old Carter is in his final season of a record three-year deal with the glamour Paris club.

The former All Blacks star helped Racing 92 get away to a winning start to their new Top 14 campaign.

Cater kicked two conversions and two penalties as Racing came back to beat Castres Olympique 25-21 with Louis Dupichot scoring a late try for victory.

But Carter worked his magic wearing a No 12 jersey as Racing had French international Remi Tales at first-five.

The All Blacks great, who values the tour alongside playing at the World Cup, destroyed the Lions, scoring 33 points and crossing for two tries with a masterclass at first five-eighth to win the second test 48-18 in Wellington to secure the series.

Carter had just 18 tests to his name prior to that Lions series and admits he didn't appreciate the significance of the tour until facing questions from British media.

"I remember it started in 2004 when the All Blacks toured the northern hemisphere in the autumn series [in November and December]," Carter told ESPN.

Carter, who won the French title with Racing last year, kicked seven points in the 22-13 victory on Sunday (NZ Time) to propel his Paris club into the semifinals.

Former All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko scored one of Racing's three tries as the defending champions ended former Springboks World Cup winning coach Jake White's tenure at Montpellier.

Racing fielded four ex-All Blacks - Carter, Rokocoko, Casey Laulala and Chris Masoe - with a fifth Kiwi, Ben Tameifuna in the front row.

Ma'a Nonu was at his vintage best as he helped Toulon to a thrilling and important win in the French Top 14.

The former All Blacks midfielder scored the last of Toulon's three tries with a brilliant solo 30m effort in their 33-23 win on Monday (NZ time).

Tries haven't been easy to come by for Nonu since he moved to France following the 2015 World Cup triumph.

But he showed his mix of power and pace with this effort, side-stepping against the run of play and slicing through the Toulouse defenders to make his way to the line.

According to L’equipe, Carter and Rokocoko’s urine returned abnormal levels of steroids following their final French Top 14 rugby match back in June. However, according to the players’ management, both men had correct exemptions for using the banned substance, New Zealand Media and Entertainment reported.

Both Carter and Rokocoko play with Racing 92, who claimed their first title in 26 seasons earlier in the year, defeating Toulon 29-21.