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Greg Somerville

b. 1977

New Zealand rugby union footballer

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About Greg Somerville

Born 1977. Greg Somerville is a New Zealand rugby union player.

Greg Mardon Somerville is a New Zealand retired 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.

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."

Other Played 42 matches for New Zealand before scoring his first try against Fiji in 2005. This was an All Blacks record at the time for the most matches before scoring a point. Played in six RWC 2003 matches. Played a leadership role for the Melbourne Rebels in the 2011 Super Rugby season.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
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Also known as
Greg Mardon Somerville

People in Greg Somerville's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Greg Somerville's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Greg Somerville?

New Zealand rugby union footballer

When was Greg Somerville born?

Greg Somerville was born on 28 November 1977 in Wairoa.

What is Greg Somerville's occupation?

Greg Somerville is a rugby union player.

What nationality is Greg Somerville?

Greg Somerville is New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Greg Somerville

· Wikidata: Q1544987

· DBpedia: Greg Somerville

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Greg Somerville. https://biography.guide/greg-somerville/

MLA: "Greg Somerville." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/greg-somerville/.

Chicago: "Greg Somerville." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/greg-somerville/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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