How Blues loose forward Anton Segner is pushing to be Germany's first All Black
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Anton Segner jokes that he feels “almost half-Kiwi”. That was said understated. And yet his story could be developing into a movie worthy of Hollywood.
Two film crews from his native Germany have tracked Segner’s progress as the 24-year-old battles to take a burgeoning rugby career to heights once unimaginable when raised in Frankfurt.
The Blues loose forward isn’t the first young person to leave their homeland and settle for a more adventurous life in New Zealand — he arrived in 2017 after being offered a rugby scholarship by Nelson College — but not many emigrating from Europe become contenders for the All Blacks.
That Segner might have snuck into that timeless conversation after his excellent form in Super Rugby Pacific is a victory in itself.
The schoolboy Segner said in 2019 “the All Blacks is definitely the biggest goal”. Into his fifth full season of professional rugby in Auckland, he was understandably a touch more bashful on the subject.
“The German, as well as the New Zealand media, is more focused on it than I am. My whole focus is here and winning a championship with the Blues,” Segner said.
“If that comes from it, then great. It’s not really a conscious thought.”
Because no German has ever played for the All Blacks, that possibility will be teased if he continues to replicate his incredible display from the Blues’ wild 47-40 win over the Highlanders at Eden Park last Friday night.
Nevertheless, Segner is affable and engaging when speaking to media after the Blues’ training on Tuesday. His eloquent English can’t hide a German twang.
An obvious comparison could be made with Highlanders lock Fabian Holland, the first Dutch All Black who was a revelation in test rugby last season. The two first clashed in First XV, with Holland playing for Christchurch Boys’ High before moving to Dunedin.
Turns out Segner and Holland, both formerly of New Zealand’s under-20s, once bonded on a car trip from Wellington to Palmerston North to attend a rugby training camp.
“Unless we talk about soccer, then we might not be best friends. We’ll see how we go in the [football] World Cup,” Segner said.
“He has a similar story. I’m nothing but proud of him. The way he’s been able to perform at that level is pretty cool. Gutted with his [shoulder] injury.”
Holland was 16 when first coming to New Zealand. Segner was 15.
“I’ve almost spent more time here than I have in Germany. Definitely, I’m almost half-Kiwi,” he said.
Stereotypes of a classic Kiwi and a German are chalk and cheese, as Segner highlights when asked for the biggest difference between the two cultures he has been immersed in.
“The ability to play rugby,” he joked. His serious answer soon followed.
“The way they go about life. Germans are quite structured and punctual. Kiwis are pretty laid back and relaxed, but they still get the job done.
“I’ve tried to adopt some Kiwi features. I’m enjoying it. I guess it’s why I’ve been here for so long.”
Segner has bided his time since joining the Blues in 2022. Loose forwards ahead of him have been All Blacks such as Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i and Akira Ioane. He brings up Adrian Choat, too, although the aforementioned trio will have all left by next year.
“Heaps of popular names to learn from. I tried to soak up all the learnings I could. Now to share the field is pretty special,” he said.
“Very little success happens overnight. It’s been about keeping my head down, working hard and earning the rewards.”
His efforts have been enjoyed by fans, too, after his best run of games with the Blues third and eyeing another title after their 2024 heroics.
Eden Park’s meek atmosphere remains something the Blues organisation is trying to energise.
However, sections rose to their feet to applaud Segner when he was brought off in the 62nd minute after his outstanding two-try performance against the Highlanders.
Playing next to Sotutu and Papali’i for most of this season, the versatile Segner has stood out with seven starts (six at blindside and one at openside flanker) from nine matches, with testing competition from the impressive Torian Barnes and Malachi Wrampling.
He is a tireless workhorse, getting from ruck to ruck, athletic, strong in the lineout (at 1.92m) and beginning to break defensive lines.
“I’m starting to fill out,” he said, revealing his playing weight had been nudged to 111kg.
“I feel stronger in contact and a bit more explosive. I’m getting more used to my body.”
He led the Blues’ count for metres made (99 from nine carries) against the Highlanders (with a 25-metre surge for his second try).
His coach Vern Cotter is one of the most experienced in the competition. He doesn’t often extend such lavish praise for players, conscious it can take a young gun’s eye off the ball with another match soon on the horizon.
Segner compelled Cotter to say this on Friday night.
“If you look at his stats, he’s probably one of the outstanding loose forwards in the competition,” Cotter said.
“Anton is playing exceptionally well, a very good lineout operator. He’s probably one of the most professional players I’ve seen around where he’s hard and accurate on himself.
“He is dedicated to becoming better. He doesn’t let anything slip aside. Whether it’s his upbringing, his background or his individual drive, he pushes himself to becoming very good.
“He wants people around him to be good as well because his job becomes easier.”
Indeed, Segner does have leadership qualities. He captained the Crusaders’ under-20s before heading north. After switching from Tasman in NPC, he was Auckland’s skipper last year.
On Cotter’s point about self-analysing, Segner said: “That’s the German in me, always wanting to get better and wanting to work hard, being a perfectionist, even if rugby is a game that never works out to be perfect.
“Every game, every training, I look back and see what I can be better at, but at the same time, the stuff I’m doing well.”
Dave Rennie’s first pertinent statement as All Blacks coach was to stress there were “no loyalties” with selection, putting every Kiwi player on notice in Super Rugby.
Segner would have to climb a long list of names in one of the All Blacks’ most competitive positions. Ardie Savea is arguably the only guaranteed starting loose forward.
Others from Scott Robertson’s last squad were Simon Parker, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau and Du’Plessis Kirifi.
Another uncapped candidate excelling is Hurricanes loose forward Devan Flanders.
Who knows what Rennie is thinking. Still, with a larger squad needed for a gruelling tour of South Africa in August and September, more outsiders might get a coveted chance.
Maybe, maybe Segner. The German production crews — one television and one film — will be craving he gets the call after popping in and out of the Blues’ HQ this year.
So will his parents, still based in Germany, who are visiting in the weeks ahead for the Blues’ fixtures against the Reds (in Christchurch) and Moana Pasifika (in Auckland).
“They come out once a year to see me play,” Segner said.
“Dad gets up in the middle of the night to watch me play from Germany. He always enjoys coming to see the boys and watch me play in person.”
Don’t rule out another long-haul trip for mum and dad. From Germany to the All Blacks, it’s never been done before.