New Zealand v Italy: Anton Segna becomes first German-born All Black

Anton Segner will become the first German-born All Black when he comes off the bench in the uncapped back row in New Zealand’s Nations Championship match against Italy on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was born in Frankfurt and developed an obsession with rugby and the All Blacks after being introduced to the sport by two English school friends.

He joined a local club coached by New Zealanders and adopted Kiwi habits, asking his parents to make pies for him and perform hakas learned from YouTube at a school Christmas concert.

“Talk like a Kiwi, eat like a Kiwi, dress like a Kiwi,” Segner’s father Tim said of his son’s childhood. In an interview with Staff last month., outsider

At 15, Segner moved across the world to attend Nelson College, a state school that produced a string of All Blacks and progressed through New Zealand’s age-grade teams before winning a contract with Super Rugby’s Auckland-based Blues.

“I experienced first-hand that rugby in New Zealand is like football (soccer) in Germany,” Segner said.

“It’s a rugby-mad country and that’s what I wanted. Now to make this squad is definitely a dream come true.”

Segnar may be set to become the first German-born All Black, but he is following a similar path to Fabian Holland.

Holland was born and raised in the Netherlands but, inspired by a New Zealand Sevens training camp held at his local club, set his sights on becoming an All Black.

Holland moved to Christchurch as a 16-year-old and Made his New Zealand debut against France in July 2025. In December he was named World Rugby Player of the Year.

Coach Dave Rennie made five changes to his starting line-up narrow win over France last weekend, Flanker Wallace is one of those coming along with Sititi.

Ruben Love continued at fly-half after starting the first Test in the 34-32 success in Christchurch.

New Zealand: Mackenzie; Jordan, Proctor, Barrett, Carter; Love, Roygard; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Darry, Y, Sititi, Jacobson, Savea.

Replacement: Taukei’aho, Bower, Tosi, Lord, Segner, Ratima, Lienert-Brown, Moorby.