New Zealand pick first German-born player

FEILDING: German-born Anton Segner remembers rising early to watch the All Blacks' haka before the 2011 Rugby World Cup final against France -- now he is set to make his New Zealand debut against the French next month.

That haka and the 8-7 New Zealand victory set Segner on a rugby path he could never have imagined.

It culminated on Monday with the flanker being named by coach Dave Rennie in the 34-man All Blacks squad for next month's home Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland.

Segner was introduced to rugby by two English school friends in his native Frankfurt and was quickly hooked. "Like every other German kid, I did grow up playing football until I was nine years old," Segner said.

"One day after school, we went around to their house and they were, like, we should go play rugby in the back yard. "Once I figured out that you were able to hit people legally, I fell in love with the contact side of the sport."

A week later he joined the SC 1880 Frankfurt rugby club and, under New Zealand coaches Kieran and Tim Manawatu, worked his way through the youth ranks.

"They coached me over there for five years," the 24-year-old Segner explained.

"In 2016, Tim got a job at Tasman Rugby and got me in touch with Nelson College and planted the seed in my head around maybe giving the first 15 a crack."

'Surreal feeling'

Segner got a place at Nelson College in New Zealand and his captain on arriving was Leicester Fainga'anuku, now also an All Black.

Segner succeeded Fainga'anuku as captain and in 2020 began playing professional rugby for Tasman in New Zealand's provincial competition.

Two years later he was running out for Super Rugby's Auckland Blues.