Flanker Anton Segner is on the brink of making rugby history. Photo: AFP
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.
