Andrew Mehrtens

Andrew Mehrtens was one of the finest fly halves of his generation. A supremely talented kicker with an excellent mind for the game, he was a favourite of fans, players and pundits alike. Andrew Merhtens was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.

Although he was born in South Africa, Andrew Mehrtens moved to New Zealand at a young age. As a result, he played his junior rugby in Christchurch and represented New Zealand at both U19 and U21 level.

In 1993, Andrew Mehrtens made his debut for Canterbury. Between then and 2005, he made 108 appearances for the side and scored more than 1,000 points. During this time, he was a pivotal member of the team that captured the National Provincial Championship on several occasions.

In 1996, when the Super Rugby era began, Andrew Mehrtens signed with the Crusaders. Between then and 2005, he enjoyed an even greater level of success than he did with Canterbury. During this period, he made 87 appearances for the side and scored 990 points. He also helped the side win the title on five occasions, including three titles in a row between 1998 and 2000.

After his stints with Crusaders and Canterbury came to a close, Andrew Mehrtens moved to Europe and represented Harlequins (2005-07), Toulon (2007-08), Racing Métro 92 (2008-2010) and Béziers (2010-2013). During his time in Europe, he became known as a promotion specialist. He gained promotion with Harlequins, Toulon and Métro 92 in his first season with all three clubs.

Although Andrew Mehrtens enjoyed a stellar domestic career, he’s best known for his 70 appearances for the All Blacks between 1995 and 2004. During this period, his near-metronomic goal kicking powered New Zealand to a string of impressive wins.

Since retiring from rugby in 2013, Andrew Mehrtens has enjoyed spells as a coach. He’s currently a presenter and commentator for rugby coverage in Australia.