Carter made his All Blacks debut in 2003 against Wales

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones has laughed at suggestions linking the Welsh region with New Zealand star Dan Carter.

Outside-half Carter, 26, plays his rugby with Super 14 side Crusaders but is said to want to play in Europe.

But the Ospreys already have James Hook, Gareth Owen and Dan Biggar in that position.

"I don't understand the argument of our linking to Dan Carter when we have three of the most gifted outside-halves in Welsh rugby," said Jones.

"I think it's a game that goes on down south where players who come out of contract need to have the leverage to negotiate with their governing body as they are centrally contracted.

"We tend to get linked regularly with overseas players who are coming out of their contract."

New Zealand have a similar attitude to Wales in that players who play outside their home country will not usually be considered for national selection.

But it has been reported that the New Zealand Rugby Football Union is offering Carter an 18-month sabbatical abroad, which would see him remain contracted to the governing body and return in time for the 2010 Super 14s and the build-up to the 2011 World Cup.

Yet Jones would not be pressed on whether it was someone elsewhere within the region's structure who had money and influence to bring someone like Carter in.

"I would direct you to the people you are talking about and not me," he added.