All Blacks loose forward Anton Segner has committed his long-term future to New Zealand Rugby, signing a contract extension through to the end of 2031.
The four year extension will see the 25-year-old remain with New Zealand Rugby, the Blues and Auckland, making him the first All Black contracted through to the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Segner said he was grateful to have his future locked in with the three teams.
"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."
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Segner moved to New Zealand as a 15-year-old exchange student at Nelson College in 2017.
He went on to represent New Zealand Secondary Schools before making his provincial debut for Tasman in 2020 and joining the Blues in 2022.
Segner became the first German-born player to represent the All Blacks when he made his Test debut in New Zealand's 47-17 win over Italy in July.
He had since earned two Test caps and featured for the All Blacks against the Bulls and Stormers in South Africa, before an ankle injury brought his tour to an early end.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said Segner's long-term commitment to showed how much he wanted to represent the national side.
"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," Rennie said.
“Anton is a hell of an athlete and has physical presence 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 said securing Segner until 2031 provided the franchise with "huge stability".
"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," Williams said.
Segner had made 54 appearances for the Blues since his debut season in 2022 and 17 appearances for Auckland. He previously played for Tasman.
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