German teen chasing All Blacks dream
When German exchange student Anton Segner arrived at Nelson College in 2017, he had a goal to crack the school’s first XV rugby team.
The then 15-year-old left behind friends and family in Frankfurt, travelling to the other side of the world to chase a dream of playing for the All Blacks.
Just over a year later, he got his first taste of the black jersey, playing for the New Zealand Schools team against Tonga in September.
Segner has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the school rugby ranks, one which the 16-year-old is still trying to get used to.
‘‘I’m still struggling to take it all in and take it all for real yet, but it’s definitely a good feeling, I’m very proud.’’
Like most German boys, Segner grew up playing sports like football and ice hockey. Encouraged to play the oval ball game by friends at his English-speaking school in Frankfurt, he picked up the game fast.
Through the advice of club coach and former Tasman rugby development officer Tim Manawatu, Segner took up a scholarship to study at Nelson College. In his first year, he made the First XV, before being named captain for the 2018 season.
Nelson College First XV manager Peter Grigg said Segner had grown as a leader as well as a player.
‘‘He’s showed great leadership, and he’s got real mana amongst the team . . . all the young kids at school really look up to him.’’
Representative honours soon followed, first with the Crusaders under-18 team and then New Zealand Schools.
Segner played in three games on the New Zealand Schools tour of Australia, starting on the openside flank against Tonga Schools and Australia Schools.
‘‘It was a lot more physical, especially against Tonga – they had some pretty big players,’’ he said.
‘‘Also, just the speed of the game and the skill set was higher. I was just really fortunate to be around such a good group.’’
Segner made his own impact at the tournament, touching down for a try in the team’s 54-0 win over Tonga.
He said getting the chance to play in that environment had only increased his desire to take his game to the next level.
‘‘For that two weeks, we were treated like we were professional rugby players. Some players tend to drop off because it’s too much rugby or it’s too serious, but for me it was completely the opposite.
‘‘Just seeing the everyday life of a pro player, that’s what I want to do . . . I think I’m a solid all-round player, but I most enjoy the contact.’’ Anton Segner
‘‘Just seeing the everyday life of a pro player, that’s what I want to do,’’ he said.
Segner models his game on New Zealand’s top openside flankers, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea, as well as the recently retired Richie McCaw. At 190cm and 107kg, he’s already just about as big as they are.
‘‘I think I’m a solid all-round player, but I most enjoy the contact, particularly around the ruck and the breakdown.’’
While Segner has represented Germany at U16 level, there’s no doubting where his future allegiance lies.
‘‘The All Blacks were always my dream. To play for the best and most successful sports team in the world, that’s part of the reason I came down here.
‘‘I thought, ‘The All Blacks are from New Zealand, so why not come down and have a crack at it here?’.’’
Segner’s family have also caught the rugby bug, with his parents and two brothers flying to Australia to cheer him on at the most recent tournament.
‘‘Just like me, they didn’t know much about it before I started playing, they didn’t really know anything about the sport.
‘‘About two years after I started playing, my Dad looked into it and started watching the All Blacks play, and Mum’s quite passionate about it now.’’
‘‘It’s a bit hard for my Mum with me being on the other side of the world from her. I miss them a lot, but I know they’re proud of me.’’