Greg Mardon Somerville is a New Zealand rugby union player. Somerville is currently in the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks and is a front rower, specializing in the position of tighthead prop, but can also play loosehead. Somerville made his 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 so far only test try against Fiji in 2005.
Somerville plays provincial rugby for Canterbury Rugby Football Union and in the Super 14 for the Crusaders, 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. Somerville's name is occasionally misspelt "Sommerville".[1]
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 bounced back 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."[2]
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.
References
- SA Sports Illustrated. "My Hero: Four All Black rugby players reveal their sport heroes." October 2008: 35.
Notes
External references
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Canterbury
