Greg Somerville
A rock-solid All Black prop whose 66-test career was built on immense scrummaging power and unwavering reliability in the front row.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Rugby player·Birthday: November 28·Generation X
Biography
Greg Somerville was the quiet cornerstone of the All Blacks' forward pack during a dominant era. The Canterbury tighthead prop specialized in the dark arts of the scrum, providing a stable and often destructive platform that was the foundation for New Zealand's free-flowing rugby. His value was measured not in flashy tries but in set-piece dominance and relentless work rate. Somerville amassed 66 test caps, a remarkable number for a prop, reflecting his consistency and durability. He was a central figure for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, part of multiple championship-winning sides. His career took him to Gloucester in England and later to Japan, where his expertise remained highly sought after. Somerville's legacy is that of the ultimate professional—a player whose critical contributions were fully appreciated by teammates, coaches, and purists of the game.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Greg was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Greg Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Greg's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned 66 test caps for the New Zealand All Blacks between 2000 and 2008.
- Won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006).
- Played 100 Super Rugby matches for the Crusaders, a significant milestone for a forward.
- Won multiple NPC titles with his provincial side, Canterbury.
Did You Know?
His nickname is 'Yoda', given for his wise demeanor and physical resemblance to the Star Wars character when not wearing his front-row headgear.
He scored only one try in his 66-test All Black career, against Fiji in 2005.
He made his All Black debut in a 102-0 victory over Tonga in 2000.
After retiring, he moved into scrum coaching, working with the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.
“A good scrum is about technique, leverage, and doing your job for the team.”
