WHEELING, W.Va. – Wheeling Jesuit prop Max Lum has been in New Zealand sharpening his skills and got a rare treat, as he suited up with former New Zealand star Dan Carter.

Carter, the longtime All Black flyhalf, is making his comeback and returned to the field this weekend. He needs to work his way into it and started with the Southbridge Rugby Club just south of Christchurch, New Zealand, where his career begin.

While fans and photographers crowded the Southbridge rugby grounds last Saturday, all eyes were firmly on Carter. However, for Wheeling Jesuit’s Max Lum, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to pull on a jersey, and actually take the field with one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Since February, Lum (a sophomore from Advance, NC) has been in New Zealand playing rugby for Southbridge Rugby Club while taking a semester off school to improve his game. Last Saturday, Lum and Carter both found themselves in the starting lineup.

"Being able to play top level rugby here in New Zealand has been a amazing experience and things are going quiet well," um told Goff Rugby Report. "I have been named for two rep squads here in New Zealand, one being the Elsmere Under 21 Colts squad, and also the Elsmere Senior A wider training squad."

He called playing with Carter an "honor." Cartr played the first half and set up two nice tries and made all of his kicks.

"His knowledge of the game is very inspiring and being able to step on the same pitch with him was so surreal," said Lum. "I am fortunate enough to be able to play with him again this Saturday. Not many people get this opportunity in life, especially somebody being from the States."

Even getting a small taste of what Carter can do on the rugby field was "a very humbling experience,” said Lum. “I felt every time he had the ball in his hand, he had all the time in the world. Just playing one game with him was a huge learning experience, one I’ll cherish for the rest of my life."

While Lum didn’t score in the game, he had plenty of personal highlights receiving passes from Carter to pick up yardage for his squad as they went on to beat North Canterbury rivals Glenmark 51-10.

Lum plans to return to WJU in the fall to take the field for the Cardinals.