All Blacks head coach details what made Anton Segner impossible to leave out

The big inclusion in Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad of 2026 was German-born Blues loose-forward Anton Segner, who had a standout season for the Auckland-based franchise.

The Blues loose-forward is versatile, can play all three positions in the back-row, and his form in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season has given him an opportunity in Rennie’s first squad.

Segner will join All Blacks captain Ardie Savea, Chiefs trio Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker and Wallace Sititi, and Hurricanes No.8 Peter Lakai as the squad’s loose-forwards.

The 24-year-old, born in Frankfurt, Germany, captained the Blues for the first time this season, further cementing himself as a future leader for the franchise.

 

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Rennie explained that Segner’s form and versatility played a key part in their selection process.

“Anton has been the best player to come out of the Blues, just high consistency,” Rennie told Kirstie Stanway from Sky Sport in Fielding.

“He’s been great with ball in hand, he’s stolen a lot of pill, so he’s been excellent.”

The All Blacks head coach pinpoints his lineout ability as an asset Segner brings to the environment.

“There’s a good line out forward, so he gives us a lot of versatility. We think he could generally be a high quality seven, but you know he’s got a really balanced skill set.”

Senior assistant coach and former Taranaki head coach Neil Barnes said that even though he wasn’t completely sold on him at the beginning of the campaign, Segner’s form was tough to leave out.

“He’s (Segner) a very impressive young man, that’s worked really hard this year, probably the best player in the Blues camp,” Barnes said.

“He’s forced his way in with performance, and I’ll be straight up at the start of the year. I was aware of him, wasn’t quite aware of how good he is.

“So he’s done a very good job of impressing us, he’s got more work to do now.”