All Black great faces bankruptcy application

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

A former All Black considered to be one of the best first five-eighths in rugby history is facing a bankruptcy application.

An application to have Andrew Philip Mehrtens adjudicated bankrupt was called at the High Court at Christchurch last Thursday morning.

The application was made by Christchurch law firm Saunders Robinson Brown.

Appearances were excused by Associate Judge Dale Lester, who adjourned the application to June 4 to allow “for a part payment to be made”.

A bankruptcy application made by a creditor is a legal process where an individual or organisation owed money (the creditor) asks the court to formally declare their debtor bankrupt. The debt can still be settled after an application is called in court, if an adjournment is granted.

The application is then typically discontinued if the debt is paid.

Stuff contacted Mehrtens, who is believed to be living in France, following the hearing, but he declined to comment.

Following his illustrious career in rugby playing for the All Blacks and Crusaders, Mehrtens, 53, has since moved on to public speaking, financial advice and asset management, according to his online LinkedIn profile.

“My passion for business and skill in story-telling have allowed me to cultivate a robust global network across both English-speaking and Francophone regions,” his profile biography says.

“With experience ranging from senior roles in traditional financial services to serving as president of a French rugby club, and playing a pivotal role in one of the world's most renowned sporting franchises, I bring a wealth of expertise in leading teams and achieving success in high-performance environments.”

Mehrtens was first selected for the All Blacks in 1995 and played in the World Cup that same year.

During his career he played 70 tests, scoring 967 points - a record which stood until 2009 when it was surpassed by Dan Carter.