Greg Somerville

Greg Somerville

Full name	Greg Mardon Somerville
Date of birth	November 28, 1977 (1977-11-28)
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	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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

He played his 50th test match against Argentina on June 2006 at Buenos Aires.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Somerville's sporting hero is Buck Shelford, who, he says, "was a tremendous leader for the All Blacks and an outstanding front-rower."

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.

References

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

External links

• Melbourne Rebels Player Profile
• Gloucester profile
• Greg Somerville at AllBlacks.com
• CRFU Profile