When Anton Segner was 10 years old, growing up in Germany, he made an extraordinary decision – he was going to become an All Black.
Fourteen years later, that childhood dream became reality when Dave Rennie named the Blues loose forward in his first All Blacks squad.
Segner will become the first German-born player to represent New Zealand, completing one of rugby’s most remarkable journeys.
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His obsession with the All Blacks began after New Zealand coaches introduced him to rugby at his local club in Frankfurt.
“He just wanted to live like a Kiwi, and so he just copied us,” former coach Kieran Manawatu recalled to Stuff.co.nz.
Segner embraced everything about New Zealand rugby, from learning the haka on YouTube to refusing soft drinks after being told that “All Blacks don’t drink fizzy”.
“Talk like a Kiwi, eat like a Kiwi, dress like a Kiwi,” his father, Tim, said.
The dream became even more real at the age of 15 when Segner left Germany for Nelson College.
His mother, Eva, admitted she struggled with the move, but her son had only one goal.
“When I dropped him off … I asked, ‘Do you really want to stay?’” she recalled.
“He said, ‘If it takes this to be an All Black, I’m staying.’”
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Segner captained Nelson College before progressing through New Zealand Schools, New Zealand U20, Tasman and the Blues.
His outstanding Super Rugby form this season convinced Rennie to hand him his long-awaited opportunity.
For those who know him best, wearing the black jersey is not the end of the story.
“I am certain that this is only the start for him,” former Frankfurt rugby director Uli Byszio said.
“He’s become maybe a little bit more relaxed, but he never, never, never leaves focus.
“He’s got that Kiwi slang, but inside he’s dead German stainless steel.”
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
The post German boy’s All Blacks dream comes true appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
When Anton Segner was 10 years old, growing up in Germany, he made an extraordinary decision – he was going to become an All Black.
The post German boy’s All Blacks dream comes true appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
