Andrew Mehrtens facts for kids
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| Birth name | Andrew Philip Mehrtens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 April 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Durban, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Christchurch Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andrew Philip Mehrtens (born 28 April 1973) is a famous former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was known as a top first five-eighth, which is a key position in rugby. He first played for Canterbury in 1993. Then, in 1995, he was chosen to play for the All Blacks, New Zealand's national team, and even played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
After playing in New Zealand, Andrew Mehrtens moved to England and then to France. He helped his first three clubs there get promoted to their country's top rugby leagues. He joined Harlequins in England and helped them return to the top Guinness Premiership right away. Later, he moved to Toulon and then Racing Métro 92 in France. With both French teams, he helped them win their league titles and move up to the Top 14, which is the highest level of rugby in France.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Andrew Mehrtens was born in Durban, South Africa, in 1973. His parents lived there for four years before returning to New Zealand when he was a young child. He grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand. He went to Christchurch Boys' High School, where he played for the school's top rugby team. He also played junior rugby for a club called Kaiapoi.
Rugby was a big part of Andrew's family. His grandfather, George Mehrtens, played for Canterbury in the 1920s. His father, Terry, also played rugby for Canterbury. Andrew himself played for New Zealand's under-19 and under-21 teams, showing his talent from a young age. He was also very good at tennis and was ranked nationally in different age groups.
Rugby Career Highlights
Andrew Mehrtens became a very popular player in New Zealand. Many people loved his playing style and his friendly personality. He was known for his great skills, vision on the field, and powerful kicks. Fans and media also liked him because he was intelligent and had a good sense of humor.
His first big rugby selection was in 1992 when he played for the national under-19 team against Australia. He joined the Canterbury team in 1993. In 1994, he helped Canterbury win the Ranfurly Shield, a famous trophy in New Zealand rugby. His strong performances made it clear he was a future All Blacks player.
Playing for the All Blacks
Andrew Mehrtens made his debut for the All Blacks in 1995. He had an amazing first game against Canada, scoring 28 points. This was the most points ever scored by a player in their first international match at that time. He also played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa.
For the next several years, Andrew was a regular player for the All Blacks. He was a key part of the team, even though injuries and competition from other talented players sometimes meant he didn't start every game. In 1999, he set a record by kicking nine penalties in a game against Australia.
Andrew Mehrtens is currently the second-highest points scorer for the All Blacks, with 967 points. He held the record for a long time until Dan Carter passed him in 2009. He has scored 20 or more points in 13 different international matches. He is also the only player to have scored over 300 points in the Tri Nations Series, a competition between New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
Club and Provincial Success
Besides playing for the All Blacks, Andrew Mehrtens had a fantastic career with the Crusaders in the Super 12 competition. He played a big part in their success, helping them win the title four times in five years (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002). He also played when they won in 2005. He became the Super 12's all-time leading scorer, a record he held until 2009.
He was also a huge contributor to his provincial team, Canterbury. He helped them win the Ranfurly Shield in 1994, 2000, and 2004. He also played in three NPC-winning teams for Canterbury in 1997, 2001, and 2004. His partnership with half-back Justin Marshall was very well-known.
Later Career and Retirement
At the end of the 2005 Super 12 season, Andrew Mehrtens left New Zealand rugby. He moved to Britain to play for the Harlequins. He played his last match for Harlequins on his birthday in 2007, scoring 24 points in a win.
After that, he joined French teams. He played for Toulon in 2007–08 and helped them win their league and get promoted. Then he moved to Racing Métro 92 for the 2008–2009 season, and they also won their league and moved up. He later played for Béziers.
In 2014, Andrew Mehrtens joined the Waratahs as a kicking coach. Today, he lives in Sydney, Australia, and works as a rugby commentator for Stan Sport.
Honours
In 2006, Andrew Mehrtens was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). This is a special award given for his great services to rugby in New Zealand.
See also
In Spanish: Andrew Mehrtens para niños
