Blues rookie Anton Segner sets out to become Germany's first All Black
It’s been a whirlwind few years for Blues rookie Anton Segner since he first arrived in New Zealand from Germany on what was initially meant to be a six-month exchange at Nelson College in 2017.
Since then, the outstanding 20-year-old loose forward has blossomed into one of New Zealand rugby’s hottest young properties who has an eye on becoming Germany’s first All Black.
Segner hasn’t shied away from his aspirations of playing for the All Blacks in the past, after having already represented New Zealand at schoolboy level in 2018 and 2019, and then for the national U20 side last year.
However, the Frankfurt-born product reaffirmed his desire to play for the All Blacks while speaking to media on Tuesday as he prepares for his debut season in Super Rugby Pacific.
“At the moment, I’m pretty settled and happy here in New Zealand,” Segner, who was also a Germany U16 representative, said as he didn’t rule out the idea of also playing international rugby for his homeland under World Rugby’s new eligibility laws.
“First and foremost is obviously the Blues, and then hopefully that pathway takes me through to the black jersey, but we’ll see how rugby develops over in Germany.
“Hopefully, with what I’m doing over here, can help further the game back home as well. We’ll see where things take me, but, at the moment, my focus is on the Blues and, from there, the All Blacks.”
Before he can consider playing international rugby for the All Blacks or Germany, Segner must first navigate his way through Super Rugby Pacific after being signed by Blues head coach Leon MacDonald following two seasons in the NPC with Tasman.
During that time, Segner won a national title in 2020 and was part of the Mako side that finished as runners-up in 2021, with his impressive performances at provincial level clearly enough to earn him his first, and inevitable, Super Rugby Pacific contract.
Most would have anticipated his first gig at that level would have come with the Crusaders, though, given he had spent the last two pre-seasons training with the Christchurch-based franchise.
Instead, it is the Blues that have lucked out on signing Segner, who has already noticed some key differences in training methods between the rival clubs.
“Not sure if it’s just in pre-season, but the trainings are really intense up here, but I love that,” he said.
“Down at the Crusaders, we wouldn’t really do much body-on-body contact, whereas, here, you’re into it straight away, twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, but really enjoying that and really enjoying getting as close to a game scenario as possible.”
Segner’s presence at the Blues gives the Aucklanders extra depth and quality throughout their loose forward stocks, which already features All Blacks trio Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Hoskins Sotutu, as well as occasional captain Tom Robinson.
Being in such star-studded company excites Segner as he looks to develop his qualities as a mobile back rower who poses a serious threat for opposition teams defensively and at the breakdown.
“For me, meeting those boys is a massive opportunity to learn off those boys that have played at the highest level,” he said.
“Actually getting to meet those boys for the first time, like the rest of the team, really nice guys and I look forward to working with them in the future.”
Time will tell how much game time Segner will receive in his debut Blues season as he competes with the likes of Ioane, Papalii, Sotutu and Robinson for starting roles, but he has certainly caught the eye of MacDonald in his first few weeks in Auckland.
“He’s been great. He’s a great athlete and a really good pro and it feels like he’s been here forever. He’s got good mates in the team already and seems to be enjoying himself. He’s made a good fist of it so far,” the Blues boss said.
Those comments bode well for Segner’s chances of selection when the Blues kick their 2022 campaign off against cross-town rivals Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
Regardless of whether or not he plays in that fixture, Segner is optimistic about what the upcoming season entails as he opens the next chapter in his meteoric rise through New Zealand rugby.
“It’s been awesome coming up here. Obviously a bit nervous, it’s a bigger city than Nelson, but I’m loving It with all the boys and the staff, as well, are all really welcoming, so feeling a strong sense of belonging to the Blues. It’s awesome,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say overwhelming, but definitely exciting because, as you say, it is a lot of big changes, going into a new city, going into a completely new team, but when the opportunity arose, I took it with open arms.
“All the challenges that lie ahead of me, I’m looking forward to them and see them all as opportunities, really.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments