Greg Somerville

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 domestic rugby for Canterbury Rugby Football Union and for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition, having played 100 matches for the latter after debuting against the Chiefs in 1999. Somerville's nickname is Yoda, after the fictional character from Star Wars due to their resemblance.[1]

Greg Somerville
Somerville in 2011
Birth nameGreg Mardon Somerville
Date of birth (1977-11-28) 28 November 1977
Place of birthWairoa, New Zealand
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
ChildrenPaige Somerville, Eden Somerville, Rylah Somerville
Occupation(s)Professional rugby player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Correct as of 31 March 2008
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–10 Gloucester 36 (5)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998–2008 Canterbury 56 ()
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999–2008
2011		 Crusaders
Melbourne Rebels		 115
16		 (45)
(5)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2000–08 New Zealand 66 (5)

Somerville left New Zealand in late 2008, having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Guinness Premiership team Gloucester. In 2010 he left Gloucester for the Melbourne Rebels, with whom he spent the 2011 season before retiring.

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

References
  1. "Rugby union salutes 'Yoda' Somerville". The Press. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  2. Quoted in "My Hero" 2008, p. 35.
  3. Gould, Russell (17 June 2011). "Yoda to bow out fighting". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  4. Stathi, Paxinos (17 June 2011). "Somerville set for final run". Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  5. Bidwell, Hamish (15 April 2010). "Crusaders bid to bring Greg Somerville home". Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  6. Smith, Wayne (23 April 2010). "Melbourne Rebels add Greg Somerville, Hoani McDonald to ranks". Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  7. "Former All Black Somerville now All Rebel". Clubs Online. Victorian Rugby Union. 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2010.

Sources
  • SA Sports Illustrated. "My Hero: Four All Black rugby players reveal their sport heroes." October 2008: 35.
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