There was no escape for the prominent viewer from the field, Anton Segner.

No matter where the 20-year-old Hesse appeared on Saturday at the SC 1880 Frankfurt sports facility, the well-trained young man with the black T-shirt and shorts of the same color quickly became the center of attention.

Germany's top rugby player had to write autographs and take selfies with his supporters of all ages on a piecemeal basis, which didn't seem to bother him.

George Daniels

Editor in the sports department

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As far as the big sports topic of Saturday was concerned - the final of the German championship in 15-man rugby, which Frankfurt won 29:17 against Handschuhsheim - Segner was a marginal figure.

Nevertheless, he was on everyone's lips because his rise in New Zealand as a professional is progressing in leaps and bounds.

The first games with the Auckland Blues, the top club in the international elite league Super Rugby Pacific, are behind him.

In what is probably the strongest league in the world, the best teams from New Zealand and Australia are fighting for the egg.

The future belongs to Segner

Before the season, Segner had moved from the provincial club Tasman Mako to New Zealand's only metropolis.

The New Zealand U-20 international wouldn't have been disappointed had he only made it one game.

Because the competition for the German super talent has never been greater: In his position of third-row striker, Segner is in competition with team captain Tom Robinson and the well-known All Blacks Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu and Akira Ioane.

In addition, according to local experts, the Blues have the "best back line in the world", peppered with players with All Blacks experience.

Not forgetting Segner's teammate Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is considered the biggest star in the competition.

The German upstart among the greats nonetheless managed to appear in eight games, including a couple of starting games, before an ankle injury stopped him.

"I got good playing time," said Segner of the FAZ. Through the more practice, he not only gained experience.

The German, who joined Nelson College from New Zealand at the age of 15 with the support of then-Frankfurt coach Tim Manawatu, where he received a scholarship, has also become stronger "with the ball in his hands and in touch".

"You only learn by participating."

Segner is the youngest player in the Blues.

There are hardly any players with European roots in the squad.

This also makes it a highly regarded exotic species.

The club's social media posts show just how important he is in Auckland.

In the "Players to watch" section, Segner stands out alongside Tuivasa-Sheck.

The future belongs to Segner, as the German's three-year contract shows.

A Blues player can earn a maximum of 195,000 New Zealand dollars – that's the equivalent of almost 117,000 euros – per season.

Segner's salary is said to be in the range of "between 50,000 and 100,000 New Zealand dollars".

But what is most important to him: Segner is getting closer and closer to his dream of playing for the legendary All Blacks, the New Zealand men's national team.

The rugby stadium in Auckland has a capacity of 45,000.

In Frankfurt, around 1,500 spectators watched the championship final on Saturday, which the eighties won for the second time in a row against the same opponent after a two-year break due to the corona pandemic.

"The atmosphere was awesome," said Segner.

He was positively surprised by the playful level of the duel at eye level.

Compared to the New Zealand elite league, however, it is a class difference - both technically, playfully and in terms of speed.

"It's a very fast game in New Zealand," said Segner.

His home visit made him want to play in Frankfurt again "one day".

But that still takes time.

“Maybe when I was 40,” says Segner.