German visitor surprise starter for Aranui XV | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

If you thought Germans have turned their hands successfully to everything except rugby and cricket, well, take rugby off that list.

Sixteen-year-old Felix Hintermayer had only heard of rugby through a Monty Python movie before he came to Aranui High School on a student exchange at the start of the year.

Now he's an established figure at lock in the first XV in spite of being knocked out in his first run with the ball and a big Crusaders and All Blacks fan.

Hintermayer, from Xanten in North Rhine-Westphalia, played soccer at home but got bored with it and switched to golf.

He'd only seen rugby in a Monty Python movie, but his hosts in Christchurch "showed me how to tackle and a few moves," and he played a grading game.

"The first tackle I got was from a very big guy and he knocked me out!" he said.

However, they breed them tough in Xanten, home of the legendary hero Siegfried.

"I really love rugby because in my opinion it is more male, because it is so rough," he said.

"It is so hard. I thought it was just like touch when I first played, but I was really surprised. But that is what I like about it."

Aranui High coach Matt Stock has been hugely impressed by the German youngster's attitude and willingness to learn.

"His first match was just a trial and I said when you get the ball run straight, and he did. He got hammered in the first tackle but stood up and his eyes lit up, and he was right back into it."

Stock said Hintermayer got through "a power of work" on the field and he wished he had 15 players like him.

"I've coached quite a bit of rugby and he's one of the only players who comes up to you after a game and asked 'What can I do better?'

"We'll sit down after the game and have a wee critique of his performance."

Unfortunately Hintermayer's exchange visit finishes at the end of next month, but he'll still be involved in rugby long after the New Zealand season is over. He aims to make the short trip to France to cheer on the All Blacks at the World Cup.