# Andrew Mehrtens
**Andrew Philip Mehrtens** (born 1973 in Durban, South Africa) is a New Zealand former rugby union fly-half, known in New Zealand as a first five-eighth, who played 70 Tests for the All Blacks between 1995 and 2004 and became one of the most prolific point scorers in international rugby.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) Although born in South Africa, he moved to New Zealand at a young age, played his junior rugby in [Christchurch](https://www.edgepedia.org/christchurch), and represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 level.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| All Blacks career | 70 Tests, 1995 to 2004; 967 Test points, among the highest totals by a New Zealand player[2](https://www.ruck.co.uk/all-blacks-rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-avoids-bankruptcy-after-dramatic-court-agreement) |
| Test debut | 1995 against Canada at Eden Park: 28 points, a record at the time for a player making a Test debut[3](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut) |
| Major honors | Tri Nations winner 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002; Super 12 winner 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 with the Crusaders, from seven finals[4](https://finalesrugby.fr/personnes/mehrtens-andrew) |
| Provincial career | Canterbury 1993 to 2005, 108 appearances and more than 1,000 points[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) |
| European clubs | Harlequins (2005-07), Toulon (2007-08), Racing Métro 92 (2008-2010), Béziers (2010-2013); won promotion with Harlequins, Toulon and Métro 92 in his first season at each[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) |
## Playing style and reputation
Mehrtens was a goal kicker of near-metronomic accuracy and a tactically complete fly-half. In his record-breaking debut he controlled the game with tactical sharpness and calm authority, with clinical kicking, precise distribution and clear vision.[3](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut) A retrospective ranking of the position describes his game as all-court kicking, balletic passing, and the brain of a director, with elastic accuracy long before analytics became fashionable.[5](https://www.rlwc2013.com/best-fly-half-in-world/) He is regarded as one of rugby's greatest first five-eighths and as one of the most influential players in the position in [New Zealand history](https://www.edgepedia.org/history-of-new-zealand).[6](https://www.ruck.co.uk/rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy) • [3](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut) A former England international's column credits him with paving the way for the era of running All Black fly-halves.[7](https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=31058) He was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/)
## All Blacks career, 1995 to 2004
**Debut.** Mehrtens took the field in the No. 10 jersey for his first Test against Canada at [Eden Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/eden-park), a warm-up match ahead of the 1995 [Rugby World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/rugby-world-cup). He scored 28 points, a record at the time for a player making their Test debut, including a solo try and seven conversions, and set up two tries.[3](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut)
**1995 World Cup.** At the 1995 tournament held in South Africa, Mehrtens was a standout performer as the All Blacks reached the Final.[3](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut)
**Scoring record.** Over the following decade he scored 967 points in his 70 Test games, remaining one of New Zealand's highest point scorers.[2](https://www.ruck.co.uk/all-blacks-rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-avoids-bankruptcy-after-dramatic-court-agreement) Counting all matches for the All Blacks, not only Tests, the [New Zealand Rugby](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-zealand-rugby) total is 994 points.[3](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut) His goal kicking powered New Zealand to a string of impressive wins during this period.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/)
## Canterbury, Crusaders and Super Rugby
Mehrtens debuted for [Canterbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/canterbury) in 1993 and made 108 appearances for the province through 2005, scoring more than 1,000 points and helping the side capture the National Provincial Championship on several occasions.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) When the [Super Rugby](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-rugby) era began in 1996 he signed with the Crusaders, for whom he made 87 appearances and scored 990 points through 2005.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) With the Crusaders he won the Super 12 in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002, including three titles in a row between 1998 and 2000, and contested seven finals in total.[4](https://finalesrugby.fr/personnes/mehrtens-andrew) • [1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) He also won the Tri Nations with New Zealand in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2002.[4](https://finalesrugby.fr/personnes/mehrtens-andrew)
## Career in Europe
After his New Zealand career ended, Mehrtens moved to Europe and represented Harlequins (2005-07), Toulon (2007-08), Racing Métro 92 (2008-2010) and Béziers (2010-2013).[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) He became known as a promotion specialist, gaining promotion with Harlequins, Toulon and Métro 92 in his first season with all three clubs.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) He retired from playing in 2013.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/)
## Life after playing
Since retiring, Mehrtens has worked as a coach and as a presenter and commentator for rugby coverage in Australia, and has become a regular pundit on the fly-half game, commenting on players such as Marcus Smith, Damian McKenzie and Ruben Love.[1](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/) • [8](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/andrew-mehrtens-its-time-for-england-to-make-their-mind-up/)
In 2026 he faced an application to be declared bankrupt in the High Court at Christchurch, brought by the law firm Saunders Robinson Brown; the hearing was adjourned to allow a part payment to be made, and he avoided bankruptcy after a court agreement, with no bankruptcy order made.[6](https://www.ruck.co.uk/rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy) • [2](https://www.ruck.co.uk/all-blacks-rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-avoids-bankruptcy-after-dramatic-court-agreement)
## References
1. [Andrew Mehrtens player profile, RugbyPass](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-mehrtens/)
2. [All Blacks legend avoids bankruptcy after dramatic court agreement, Ruck](https://www.ruck.co.uk/all-blacks-rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-avoids-bankruptcy-after-dramatic-court-agreement)
3. [30 Years On: Remembering Andrew Mehrtens' Record-Breaking Debut, allblacks.com](https://www.allblacks.com/news/30-years-on-remembering-andrew-mehrtens-record-breaking-debut)
4. [Finales Rugby: MEHRTENS Andrew](https://finalesrugby.fr/personnes/mehrtens-andrew)
5. [Best Fly Half in the World: Richie Mo'unga Ranked & Explained](https://www.rlwc2013.com/best-fly-half-in-world/)
6. [All Blacks legend on the verge of bankruptcy, Ruck](https://www.ruck.co.uk/rugby-news/all-blacks-legend-on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy)
7. [Guscott column: Why England don't make fly-halves like Beauden Barrett, The Rugby Paper](https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/?p=31058)
8. [Andrew Mehrtens: 'It's time for England to make up their minds', RugbyPass](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/andrew-mehrtens-its-time-for-england-to-make-their-mind-up/)
9. ['Waste of talent' – Andrew Mehrtens weighs in on fly-half debate, RugbyPass](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/waste-of-talent-andrew-mehrtens-weighs-in-on-fly-half-debate/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › Rugby union players and personnel › Southern Hemisphere players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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