Rugby fans are gearing up for a once-in-a-generation clash next week at Durban’s Kings Park, when the New Zealand All Blacks continue their South African tour against the Sharks — and the opponent waiting in the wings is one of New Zealand rugby’s most decorated modern greats, Ma’a Nonu.
Nonu, who hung up his international test jersey in 2015 after claiming his second Rugby World Cup title and capping a 103-cap national career, only put pen to paper on a short-term contract with the Sharks this Tuesday. Just three days later, the club confirmed he had been named as a backline reserve for the upcoming test against the All Blacks. Now 42 years old, Nonu has continued to compete at the top club level since retiring from international play, most recently spending multiple seasons with French Top 14 side Toulon, defying typical career timelines for elite rugby forwards.
Patrick Tuipulotu, who took charge of the All Blacks as they kicked off their South African tour with a 38-21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town, has firsthand experience of Nonu’s talent — the pair lined up together for both New Zealand and the Auckland Blues. Tuipulotu paid tribute to Nonu’s longevity, crediting it to the veteran’s relentless professionalism and natural physical gifts. “It’ll be quite a spectacle to see him come up against us and we’ll certainly look forward to that. Might catch up with him and give him a jab or two,” Tuipulotu joked of the upcoming reunion.
For the Sharks, Nonu’s signing is about more than just on-field performance: the club recruited him primarily to serve as a mentor and provide leadership, working alongside coaching staff to develop the team’s young emerging talent. Sharks head coach JP Pietersen, a former Springboks player who faced Nonu multiple times during his own international career, was a key driving force behind convincing the rugby legend to take on the role.
Pietersen highlighted the lasting impact Nonu can have on the Sharks’ next generation. “The best players don’t just leave memories, they leave standards. That’s what Ma’a brings,” Pietersen said. “Every conversation, every training session and every interaction is an opportunity for our players to learn what excellence looks like.”
When Nonu takes the field for his Sharks debut, he will be part of a youthful backline supported by an experienced forward pack. The Sharks’ match day squad features eight players under the age of 23, all of whom are current or former Junior Springboks. That youth movement includes three backline players and three front-row replacements. Recent senior Springboks debutant Vusi Moyo is slotted in at flyhalf, while two-time World Cup winner Vincent Koch will start at tighthead prop.