passed his record of 990 points. He was also on three NPC-winning Canterbury sides, in 1997, 2001 and 2004. Mehrtens is credited with reestablishing the Canterbury region as a force in New Zealand rugby again after nine years in the wilderness when in 1994 he generaled a young team who won the Ranfurly Shield off Waikato. Since that time Canterbury and under his stewardship won numerous NPC championships listed above together with rewinning the Ranfurly Shield in 2000. He won his way into the team having displaced Greg Coffey in the Canterbury A team. Post All Blacks Mehrtens played his final match for Harlequins on the final day of the 2006–07 season which fell on his birthday, scoring 24 points in a victory over the Sale Sharks, after which supporters and teammates celebrated his birthday and bid farewell to him after the game ended. On 23 May 2007, Mehrtens joined French Pro D2 team Toulon, who went on to win the league title that season and gain promotion to the Top 14. For the 2008–2009 season, Mehrtens signed to play with French Pro D2 team Racing Métro 92. After two years in Paris, which included the 2009 Pro D2 championship and a Top 14 playoff appearance in 2010 (which also secured Racing a place in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup), his contract was not renewed. He moved to the Fédérale 1 (third-division) side Béziers, signing a three-year deal with the club. Under his contract, Mehrtens has the option to move into the club's coaching staff once he decides to end his playing career. In 2014 he joined the Waratahs as a kicking coach. Mehrtens now lives in Sydney, and works as a commentator on Stan Sport, alongside Justin Harrison, and Morgan Turinui. Honours In the 2006 New Year Honours, Mehrtens was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby. References External links 1973 births Living people Canterbury rugby union players Crusaders (rugby union) players Expatriate rugby union players in France Harlequin F.C. players Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand expatriate rugby union players New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in France New Zealand international rugby union players New Zealand rugby union players People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School Racing 92 players RC Toulonnais players Rugby union fly-halves Rugby union players from Durban South African emigrants to New Zealand