Greg Somerville
Greg Somerville
| Full name |
Greg Mardon Somerville |
| Date of birth |
November 28, 1977 (1977-11-28) (age 34) |
| Place of birth |
Wairoa, New Zealand |
| Height |
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight |
115 kg (18 st 2 lb) |
| Occupation(s) |
Professional rugby player |
| Rugby union career |
| Playing career |
| Position |
Prop |
| New Zealand No. |
991 |
| Provincial/State sides |
| Years |
Club / team |
Caps |
(points) |
| 1998– |
Canterbury |
54 |
(-) |
| correct as of 12 August 2007. |
| Super Rugby |
| Years |
Club / team |
Caps |
(points) |
1999-2008
2011–2011[1][2] |
Crusaders
Melbourne Rebels |
0 |
(0) |
| Current local club |
Gloucester Rugby |
| correct as of 31 March 2008. |
| National team(s) |
| Years |
Club / team |
Caps |
(points) |
| 2000–2008 |
New Zealand |
66 |
(5) |
| correct as of 31 March 2008. |
Greg Mardon Somerville is a New Zealand rugby union player. He is a former All Black and a specialised tighthead prop who can also play loosehead. Somerville made his All Black debut in 2000 against Tonga, a match in which the All Blacks won 102–0. Somerville went 41 test matches before scoring his first, and only test try against Fiji in 2005.
Somerville played provincial rugby for Canterbury Rugby Football Union and for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition, having played 100 Super rugby matches after debuting against the Chiefs in 1999. Somerville's nickname is Yoda, after the fictional character from Star Wars due to their resemblance.[3]
He played his 50th test match against Argentina on June 2006 at Buenos Aires.
Somerville left New Zealand in late 2008, having signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Guinness Premiership club Gloucester. After the All Blacks tour in the Northern Hemisphere he headed to his new club at Kingsholm. He has already become a fan favourite for his work-effort in the loose and his excellent scrummaging. He suffered an eye injury early in his Gloucester career but recovered to make 13 appearances in 2008–09.
Somerville's sporting hero is Buck Shelford, who, he says, "was a tremendous leader for the All Blacks and an outstanding front-rower."[4]
Other
- Played 42 matches for New Zealand before scoring his first try against Fiji in 2005. This is an All Blacks record for most matches before scoring points.
- This is still his only try in 55 international matches.
- Played in six RWC 2003 matches.
- Played a leadership role for the Melbourne Rebels in the 2011 Super Rugby season.[1][2][5][6][7]
References
- SA Sports Illustrated. "My Hero: Four All Black rugby players reveal their sport heroes." October 2008: 35.
Notes
External links
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| Forwards |
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| Backs |
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| Coaches |
MacQueen (Director of Coaching) · Damien Hill (Assistant Coach) · Mark Bakewell (Forwards Coach) · Grey (Defensive Coach)
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Somerville, Greg |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
Rugby player |
| Date of birth |
28 November 1977 |
| Place of birth |
Wairoa, New Zealand |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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