Anton Segner commits to Blues and All Blacks through 2031 Rugby World Cup

Anton Segner has signed a long-term contract extension with New Zealand Rugby, the Blues, and Auckland Rugby that runs through to the 2031 Rugby World Cup, securing the All Blacks one of their most promising young loose-forwards for the foreseeable future.

The German-born forward, who left home at 15 to pursue his rugby ambitions in New Zealand, described Auckland as his home and said the decision to commit long-term was straightforward.

“Signing a long extension with the Blues, Auckland Rugby and New Zealand Rugby gives me a long-term idea of where I’ll be playing my rugby, and there’s no place I’d rather be than here in Auckland,” Segner said. “I have spent a huge chunk of my life in the ‘09, and it’s that place that has given me so many opportunities. This is my home away from home, and I absolutely love it here.”

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie pointed to Segner’s personal journey as a source of inspiration within the squad, and underlined the physical and technical qualities that make him a key figure in New Zealand’s long-term plans.

“Anton’s a great example of what this jersey means to people. He left home at 15, backed himself, and has worked incredibly hard to get where he is. Committing through to 2031 shows how much he wants to be part of this team,” Rennie said. “Anton is a hell of an athlete and has physical presence on both sides of the ball. His anticipation post-tackle, versatility and work ethic are genuine points of difference. This is a great signing for New Zealand Rugby.”

Blues General Manager of Rugby Murray Williams echoed those sentiments, highlighting Segner’s leadership as equally important as his on-field contributions.

“Anton is exactly the type of person we want at the heart of this club for the long term. We’ve seen him develop into a genuine world-class player, and seeing him pull on the black jersey this year was a proud moment for everyone at the Blues,” Williams said. “What stands out as much as his rugby is his leadership. Anton sets the standard every day, both in how he trains and in how he carries himself, and our younger players look to him for that.”

Auckland Rugby CEO Jarrod Bear added that the province is excited to see Segner continue to develop in the Blue and White hoops through to 2031.