Toulon, France — The celebrated former New Zealand rugby star, Ma’a Nonu, has committed to joining the French rugby club Toulon for the remainder of the season, the club announced on Tuesday.
Toulon shared this development on social media, accompanied by a photo of the 42-year-old Nonu proudly displaying the club’s iconic red jersey. He joins the team under the role of a “medical joker,” a term used in French rugby for a player who steps in as a replacement for an injured member mid-season.
Currently, Toulon is contending fiercely with its long-standing rival, Toulouse, for the top position in the Top 14 standings. Toulouse currently leads, holding a three-point advantage.
Ma’a Nonu is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the New Zealand national team, being an essential part of their triumphant campaigns in the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. Accumulating 103 test caps with the All Blacks, Nonu, alongside Conrad Smith, established one of the most formidable center partnerships in the history of international rugby. Notably, during his World Cup appearances, Nonu maintained an unbeaten streak, winning all 16 matches he played.
This marks Nonu’s third tenure with Toulon, having previously been part of the team from 2015 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2021, amassing a total of 93 appearances over these periods. Following his time with Toulon, Nonu advanced his career by joining the San Diego Legion in the United States.
