Anton Segner

Anton Segner
Full nameAnton Segner
Born (2001-07-24) 24 July 2001
Frankfurt, Germany
Height192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb)
SchoolNelson College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Current team Auckland, Blues
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020–2023 Tasman 28 (15)
2022– Blues 54 (20)
2024– Auckland 17 (20)
Correct as of 23 August 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021 New Zealand U20 0 (0)
2026– New Zealand 3 (0)
Correct as of 23 August 2026

Anton Segner (born 24 July 2001) is a German-born New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a loose forward for Auckland in the National Provincial Championship, the Blues in Super Rugby, and the All Blacks.[1]

Early career

Germany

Prior to 2017, Segner was playing for SC 1880 Frankfurt, one of the most traditional clubs in Germany's domestic Rugby-Bundesliga competition. He quickly established himself as one of the leading figures in the youth setup of the club and went on to win numerous German youth championships. He also captained his team, while being one of the youngest members. Segner played for the Germany Under 16 national squad in 2016. He didn't play for the Under 18 team though, as he continued his stay in New Zealand.[2]

New Zealand

In 2017, Segner was on a six month stay in New Zealand  – after being offered a scholarship by Nelson College – when he was picked for the school's first XV team, playing alongside Leicester Faingaʻanuku.[3] He then went on to captain the Nelson College top side in 2018 and led them to their first UC Championship title in twelve years in 2019.[4] In 2018, Segner made the Crusaders Under 18 squad and made his debut for the New Zealand Schools team against Tonga.[3] In 2021, he was named captain of the Crusaders Under 20 side for the Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20 competition.[5]

Senior career

At just 19 years of age, Segner was named in the Tasman Mako squad for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup,[6] signing a two year deal with the province.[7] He made his debut for the Mako in Round 7 against Southland in a 47–10 win for the side at Trafalgar Park.[8] Segner became the first German to win a Mitre 10 Cup title when Tasman won the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup, beating Auckland 12–13 in the final at Eden Park, with Segner coming off the bench in the second half. Segner had a stand out season during the 2021 Bunnings NPC as the Mako made the Premiership final before losing 23–20 to Waikato.

In October 2021, Segner signed a three year deal with Super Rugby franchise the Blues.[9] He made his debut for the side in Round 2 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season against the Hurricanes.[1]

After four seasons playing for Tasman, Segner not only re-signed with the Blues for a further two seasons, he also decided to make Auckland his permanent home by signing with the Auckland NPC team for two years.[10] He made his debut for the province on 9 August 2024 against Wellington.[11]

International career

In May 2021, Segner was named in the New Zealand Under 20 squad.[12] However, due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the 2021 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship and World Rugby U20 Championship were cancelled.[13] Instead, the team played a series of four matches on home soil, including one international match against the Cook Islands national team.[14][15]

On 22 June 2026, Segner was named as a forward in the New Zealand national rugby union team, the All Blacks, for the first time. The naming of Segner to the team marks him as the first German player, and only the second player from Europe (after Dutch forward Fabian Holland), to be named in an All Blacks team.[16] The team named, the first under new head coach Dave Rennie, is contesting the inaugural Nations Championship in July 2026 with test matches against France, Italy and Ireland.[17][18]

On 9 July 2026, Segner was selected as a reserve forward in the All Blacks team to face Italy.[19][20] In an interview in the days leading up to the match, Coach Rennie gave assurances that Segner would be given game time in the match, stating that Segner 'has been excellent [at training]'.[21]

On 11 July 2026, Segner made his debut for the All Blacks, playing the entire second half of the match in the number 20 reserves jersey as the replacement for Luke Jacobson at the openside flanker position.[22] Leading the match 14–10 at half time, New Zealand went on to defeat Italy 47–17.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 "Anton Segner". blues.rugby. 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  2. ↑ "German student Anton Segner living the rugby dream in New Zealand". stuff.co.nz. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 "German teenager Anton Segner chasing his All Black rugby dream". stuff.co.nz. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Anton Segner". allblacks.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Crusaders Under 20 squad named for 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20 tournament". Crusaders. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "2020 Tasman Mako Squad". mako.nz. 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "'I'm living the dream' – Nelson College 1st XV star out to become first German All Black". TVNZ. 26 August 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup rising stars: German teen Anton Segner makes pro debut for Tasman". stuff.co.nz. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Tasman's rising German loosie Anton Segner signs 3-year deal with Blues". stuff.co.nz. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Anton Segner extends Blues connection as he chases lofty Super Rugby ambitions". stuff.co.nz. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Auckland unveils first squads of 2024". Auckland Rugby. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "German-born teenager and Super Rugby stars headline 2021 New Zealand U20 squad". rugbypass.com. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Statement on the World Rugby U20 Championship 2021". World Rugby (Press release). 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "New Zealand Under 20 ready for home campaign". allblacks.com (Press release). 7 July 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. ↑ "Wrampling to lead NZ Under 20 against the Cook Islands". allblacks.com (Press release). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "German makes history in Rennie's first All Blacks squad". nine.com.au. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Live: All Blacks squad named for July tests". stuff.co.nz. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Fixtures & Results". allblacks.com. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Recap: All Blacks team naming: Dave Rennie picks rookies Anton Segner and Josh Moorby for Italy test". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "New Zealand All Blacks debut: Anton Segner set to face Italy in Nations Championship". apnews.com. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Why All Blacks have bold plan to unleash rookie Anton Segner off the bench early against Italy". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "German-born Segner 'over the moon' as All Blacks dream comes true". www.rfi.fr. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Recap: All Blacks dispatch Italy in Nations Championship test in Wellington". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
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