Youth
Mehrtens' parents lived in South Africa for four years from 1970 and returned to New Zealand when he was still a young child. Mehrtens grew up in Christchurch, attended Christchurch Boys' High School, and played Junior Grade Rugby for Kaiapoi. He also represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 levels.
Like many players in New Zealand, Mehrtens comes from a family with a long involvement in rugby. His grandfather, George, played for Canterbury in the 1920s as a fullback and was an All Black in unofficial internationals against New South Wales in 1928. His father, Terry, also a first five, represented Canterbury between 1964 and 1976. He was a New Zealand under-23 player in 1965 against the Springboks and again in 1967, and while in South Africa played as a fullback for Natal against the 1970 All Blacks.
Read more about this topic: Andrew Mehrtens
Famous quotes containing the word youth:
“The forward Youth that would appear
Must now forsake his Muses dear,
Nor in the Shadows sing
His Numbers languishing.”
—Andrew Marvell (1621–1678)
“What’s a man’s age? He must hurry more, that’s all;
Cram in a day, what his youth took a year to hold.”
—Robert Browning (1812–1889)
“He was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)