Since moving to New Zealand as a teenager, Segner has slowly but surely climbed the ranks of the professional game, culminating in his test debut against Italy in Wellington.
He was selected by coach Dave Rennie to tour South Africa as part of the All Blacks’ Greatest Rivalry series, only to suffer an ankle injury in the lead-up to the series-opening test in Johannesburg.
However, that hasn’t deterred Rennie’s belief in Segner’s capabilities as a loose forward, capable of covering multiple positions. He will now form a core of rising young players leading into next year’s World Cup in Australia, and the 2031 tournament in the United States.
“Anton’s a great example of what this jersey means to people,” Rennie said.
“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.
“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.”
As well as his two appearances for the All Blacks, Segner has already played more than 50 times for the Blues and 45 matches in the NPC across stints with Tasman before moving to Auckland in 2024.