Education
Carstens attended Franschoek Primary and Boland High School and represented the South African Under-19 side in 1998 at tight head property
Carstens attended Franschoek Primary and Boland High School and represented the South African Under-19 side in 1998 at tight head property
He also played for Saracens in the English Premiership. He announced his retirement in 2013 after an ongoing back injury. Carstens made his senior provincial and Super rugby debut in 2001 for the Sharks.
He was selected to tour Europe with the South African national side in 2002 and made his test debut on that tour, against Scotland on 16 November 2002.
In April 2010 it was announced that Carstens had agreed to join the Saracens Football Club for the 2010-2011 season. In November 2011, it was announced that he returned to South Africa to join the Stormers for the 2012 Super Rugby season.
He is a versatile player who can cover either side of the front row.