July 18, 2026 • 9 mins
A major milestone last weekend, with Anton Serger becoming the first German-born player to play for the All Blacks.
Segner’s appearance capped his journey from Europe to Nelson College as a teenager to chase his rugby dream. His parents, brothers, and Leicester Fainga’anuku, his college roommate, were among the sold-out crowd.
Eva Segner, Anton’s mother, joined D’Arcy to chat about her son’s achievement.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from news Talk zed BE.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Last weekend, a bloke named Anton Segna became the first Deutscher,
the first German born player to play for the All Blacks.
A huge milestone for himself and for his family. So
the farno came out last week from all over the shop,
including mum and dad. The rest of them have disappeared,
the two brothers, but mom and dad, Ah, they've stuck around.
(00:34):
They're going to watch him again tomorrow at Eden Park
managed to get her number, say her, this is the
mother of Anton's Signa. Her name is Efa Signa and
she's with us right now. Good evening to you.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Efer. How proud are you of this? Well, as you
can imagine, I'm yeah, it's behind proudness because I also
think what makes it so special that all his commitment
pays off. You know, how many people commit to something
or try to achieve a dream and sometimes it doesn't
(01:09):
work out like his. But I hope he keeps people,
you know, trying to achieve their dreams, because well, he
definitely did it.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I remember when I was seventeen and I went to
the other side of the world because I wanted to
and my mother crying at the airport. What was it
like for you when your son decided at such a
young age to travel to the other end of the
world to play rugby. Tell us about your emotion then, Ah, that.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Was horrible because first of all, I always calmped myself
down because I went like, it's only for half a year,
It's only for half a year, he will be back.
New Zealand doesn't need a German rugby player. But then
when you know I dropped him off there and you
know I saw so recommendation off the Nelson College and
(01:57):
stuff like that, and you know, I was like, oh,
this is going to be so hard, and I flew
back and I have to be honest, I was not
able to get into his room for half yeah, because
I would always cry when I would enter his room
because I really missed him badly. And as you know him,
you know, he's a great son. He's easy to deal with,
he doesn't drink any alcohol, he doesn't make any trouble.
(02:20):
He was always the policeman of the family and it's
always the hardest to let those ones go.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
So throughout the time, he's been away, You've approached him
growing from a young man, a teenager into a young man.
How stressful has that been for you in the family,
not having Anton there under your wing if you will, okay.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Anton always says that his little brother didn't we spoiled
him so much because he wasn't around to educate him.
So he thinks the biggest damage has done to his
youngest brother because we were not, you know, strict enough
for him. But really the time of COVID, that was
(03:04):
tough because that was two and a half years where
we were not allowed to see him. He would have
been able to come home, but because of his dream
of all blacks, he knew if he would fly back,
he wouldn't be able to come back in the country.
So he never did it or even try to. And
that's tough. You know, if you have a kid, you
(03:25):
see him the last time with is like seventeen and
a half and the next time you see him he's
twenty years old. That's a big difference. And also what
I never really knew so much. Also when he came back,
he said, oh my god, my little brother is suddenly
taller than me. And my older brother doesn't live at
home the same for him. You know, so much changed
(03:46):
in those two and a half years, and of course
we can't get that back. But well it was, like
I said, it's so nice to see that it all
unfolds now to his dream.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Back Piman Deutschland, what's the response, Pain, I know that
football over there is the dominant sport plainly, but as
there being an interest in what Anton's achieved in the
in the rugby space.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, I mean for the German rugby definitely. That's because
also when Anton left for Nelson College and then played
for the first fifteen and achieved so much, there was
like a whole draft behind him going to Nelson, all
from those Frankfurt boys, but none of them even made
it in the first fifteen, so you knew already. Okay,
(04:33):
there must be more behind it than just being big
and running into people. But yeah, we really really hope
that the German rugby community will grow. Also, for example,
they have it now alive on TV at the time
the All Blacks play, and even when the Blues played,
they showed that. So there must be a request for
(04:56):
it or need for it, and we love it because
we really think rugby should be a bigger spot.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
How do we get into it in the first place.
Do you remember when he came to you and your
husband Tim and say I'm going to play rugby. I
expect that reaction wouldn't have been great. So how did
he get into that? What propelled them into the same?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
You know, this this not very nice soccer coach who
told him, you know, you're too chubby, you're too unsporty,
you will never be good in soccer. And then he
came home and you know, we sent our kids to
an international school and two British kids, and you have
to play rugby. They need all sizes and shapes and
(05:41):
you will be good there. So he went there, and
you know, luckily enough, we have in Frankfurt a guy
who truly believes in the values of rugby, and especially
New Zealand rugby. So he always hires New Zealand coaches
who go then into schools to you know, show what
it's all about, and then teach rugby in the afternoon
(06:03):
and also play for the first team. And that's how
how he got into it, because right away, on the
first day he came home and said, that's it, that's
my sport, and well rest is history. He really inhaled everything.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Coming over and watching his son wear the black jersey
and play for the first time, and you're there in
the crowd. I'm not sure you can explain that the
gravity of that event must have been quite overpowering. It
a packed crowd, all wearing black, all chanting that the
hakka started. Well, what did you go through? What was
(06:38):
the emotion?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Like? Well, first of all, the traveling here because we
had like a last minute information and you know, we
need like thirty hours to be here, So first of
all to get everyone on board. I mean this one
brother came via San Francisco, the other one came via
Los Angeles. We came via Singapore. To just have everyone
(07:00):
around and then see his brothers and to see also
how they were completely shaken by him on the field.
And yeah, that so it's the whole thing. To see
him doing I would have been fine just seeing him
the hacker. I don't need running into people afterwards, but
(07:20):
seeing him do the hacker and then and also perform
the anthem, because I really truly think you have a
beautiful anthem, and then and then him running on the
field with this jersey and seeing his brothers just enjoying
every moment and yeah, I could cry again. Oh god,
(07:40):
yeah that was it is. It is so emotionally special.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Really, one last thing, the all black jersey. It's a
treasured item in New Zealand. Has he given you as
first one?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yet? Did you get it?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Did the dad get it?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
How good did you ask? It was so funny because
my husband framed every jersey he got so far, you know,
from the markers, from the Blues, he framed everyone. I
think we need new walls back at home. And then
so we went to Quison in between you know, the
last game and the one coming, and there he asked
(08:21):
me do you think he would give me one of
those jerseys? And oh, there would be. So yesterday we
met him for lunch and Anton was like, so what
about the jersey? And then like the face of my
husband lit up and Ando said do you want it?
And he was like what a question? And I was
in tears because it was so cute. So I guess
(08:43):
we needed framed now and we need I guess he
will build a whole room about it now.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
So there's a word and sorry, there's a word in
Mari over here and it's Tonga and it means treasure
and that's what you have. Their classic New Zealand Tonga.
I know how to be looked after if I's been
an absolute pleasure talking with you. Thanks so much for
your time. Enjoy the rest of your time here in
New Zealand. I'm sure you'll be back because the Lad's
(09:11):
got a career in front of me. I can assure
you of that.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Thank you very much, and we're very pleased to be
part of this bazing story and beautiful country. I have
to say thank you very very much.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from news Talk zed BE.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Last weekend, a bloke named Anton Segna became the first Deutscher,
the first German born player to play for the All Blacks.
A huge milestone for himself and for his family. So
the farno came out last week from all over the shop,
including mum and dad. The rest of them have disappeared,
the two brothers, but mom and dad, Ah, they've stuck around.
(00:34):
They're going to watch him again tomorrow at Eden Park
managed to get her number, say her, this is the
mother of Anton's Signa. Her name is Efa Signa and
she's with us right now. Good evening to you.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Efer. How proud are you of this? Well, as you
can imagine, I'm yeah, it's behind proudness because I also
think what makes it so special that all his commitment
pays off. You know, how many people commit to something
or try to achieve a dream and sometimes it doesn't
(01:09):
work out like his. But I hope he keeps people,
you know, trying to achieve their dreams, because well, he
definitely did it.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I remember when I was seventeen and I went to
the other side of the world because I wanted to
and my mother crying at the airport. What was it
like for you when your son decided at such a
young age to travel to the other end of the
world to play rugby. Tell us about your emotion then, Ah, that.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Was horrible because first of all, I always calmped myself
down because I went like, it's only for half a year,
It's only for half a year, he will be back.
New Zealand doesn't need a German rugby player. But then
when you know I dropped him off there and you
know I saw so recommendation off the Nelson College and
(01:57):
stuff like that, and you know, I was like, oh,
this is going to be so hard, and I flew
back and I have to be honest, I was not
able to get into his room for half yeah, because
I would always cry when I would enter his room
because I really missed him badly. And as you know him,
you know, he's a great son. He's easy to deal with,
he doesn't drink any alcohol, he doesn't make any trouble.
(02:20):
He was always the policeman of the family and it's
always the hardest to let those ones go.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
So throughout the time, he's been away, You've approached him
growing from a young man, a teenager into a young man.
How stressful has that been for you in the family,
not having Anton there under your wing if you will, okay.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Anton always says that his little brother didn't we spoiled
him so much because he wasn't around to educate him.
So he thinks the biggest damage has done to his
youngest brother because we were not, you know, strict enough
for him. But really the time of COVID, that was
(03:04):
tough because that was two and a half years where
we were not allowed to see him. He would have
been able to come home, but because of his dream
of all blacks, he knew if he would fly back,
he wouldn't be able to come back in the country.
So he never did it or even try to. And
that's tough. You know, if you have a kid, you
(03:25):
see him the last time with is like seventeen and
a half and the next time you see him he's
twenty years old. That's a big difference. And also what
I never really knew so much. Also when he came back,
he said, oh my god, my little brother is suddenly
taller than me. And my older brother doesn't live at
home the same for him. You know, so much changed
(03:46):
in those two and a half years, and of course
we can't get that back. But well it was, like
I said, it's so nice to see that it all
unfolds now to his dream.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Back Piman Deutschland, what's the response, Pain, I know that
football over there is the dominant sport plainly, but as
there being an interest in what Anton's achieved in the
in the rugby space.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, I mean for the German rugby definitely. That's because
also when Anton left for Nelson College and then played
for the first fifteen and achieved so much, there was
like a whole draft behind him going to Nelson, all
from those Frankfurt boys, but none of them even made
it in the first fifteen, so you knew already. Okay,
(04:33):
there must be more behind it than just being big
and running into people. But yeah, we really really hope
that the German rugby community will grow. Also, for example,
they have it now alive on TV at the time
the All Blacks play, and even when the Blues played,
they showed that. So there must be a request for
(04:56):
it or need for it, and we love it because
we really think rugby should be a bigger spot.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
How do we get into it in the first place.
Do you remember when he came to you and your
husband Tim and say I'm going to play rugby. I
expect that reaction wouldn't have been great. So how did
he get into that? What propelled them into the same?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
You know, this this not very nice soccer coach who
told him, you know, you're too chubby, you're too unsporty,
you will never be good in soccer. And then he
came home and you know, we sent our kids to
an international school and two British kids, and you have
to play rugby. They need all sizes and shapes and
(05:41):
you will be good there. So he went there, and
you know, luckily enough, we have in Frankfurt a guy
who truly believes in the values of rugby, and especially
New Zealand rugby. So he always hires New Zealand coaches
who go then into schools to you know, show what
it's all about, and then teach rugby in the afternoon
(06:03):
and also play for the first team. And that's how
how he got into it, because right away, on the
first day he came home and said, that's it, that's
my sport, and well rest is history. He really inhaled everything.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Coming over and watching his son wear the black jersey
and play for the first time, and you're there in
the crowd. I'm not sure you can explain that the
gravity of that event must have been quite overpowering. It
a packed crowd, all wearing black, all chanting that the
hakka started. Well, what did you go through? What was
(06:38):
the emotion?
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Like? Well, first of all, the traveling here because we
had like a last minute information and you know, we
need like thirty hours to be here, So first of
all to get everyone on board. I mean this one
brother came via San Francisco, the other one came via
Los Angeles. We came via Singapore. To just have everyone
(07:00):
around and then see his brothers and to see also
how they were completely shaken by him on the field.
And yeah, that so it's the whole thing. To see
him doing I would have been fine just seeing him
the hacker. I don't need running into people afterwards, but
(07:20):
seeing him do the hacker and then and also perform
the anthem, because I really truly think you have a
beautiful anthem, and then and then him running on the
field with this jersey and seeing his brothers just enjoying
every moment and yeah, I could cry again. Oh god,
(07:40):
yeah that was it is. It is so emotionally special.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Really, one last thing, the all black jersey. It's a
treasured item in New Zealand. Has he given you as
first one?
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yet? Did you get it?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Did the dad get it?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
How good did you ask? It was so funny because
my husband framed every jersey he got so far, you know,
from the markers, from the Blues, he framed everyone. I
think we need new walls back at home. And then
so we went to Quison in between you know, the
last game and the one coming, and there he asked
(08:21):
me do you think he would give me one of
those jerseys? And oh, there would be. So yesterday we
met him for lunch and Anton was like, so what
about the jersey? And then like the face of my
husband lit up and Ando said do you want it?
And he was like what a question? And I was
in tears because it was so cute. So I guess
(08:43):
we needed framed now and we need I guess he
will build a whole room about it now.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
So there's a word and sorry, there's a word in
Mari over here and it's Tonga and it means treasure
and that's what you have. Their classic New Zealand Tonga.
I know how to be looked after if I's been
an absolute pleasure talking with you. Thanks so much for
your time. Enjoy the rest of your time here in
New Zealand. I'm sure you'll be back because the Lad's
(09:11):
got a career in front of me. I can assure
you of that.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Thank you very much, and we're very pleased to be
part of this bazing story and beautiful country. I have
to say thank you very very much.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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