Double World Cup winner Ma'a Nonu has made a stunning return to France’s Top 14 giants Toulon.
The All Blacks legend, who turns 43 in May, played for San Diego Legion in America’s Major League Rugby (MLR) competition last season and has joined as medical cover until the end of the season.
Nonu has had a storied career earning 103 Test caps for his country and has played club rugby in his homeland, France and America in addition to a short-term sabbatical with Japanese side Black Rams Tokyo in 2012.
He visited the Black Rams in September last year along with his former teammate Piri Weepu. The Hurricanes legend scored six tries in 11 appearances for the Japanese side who still maintains a heavy Kiwi influence.
The iconic ex-New Zealand inside-centre has been drafted in to help the Top 14 side’s injury-hit squad with influential backs Antoine Frisch, Gabin Villiere and Setariki Tuicuvu all currently sidelined.
Toulon, who sit second in France’s top-flight, know all about the physical prowess and experience that their returning great brings after the Wellinton-born powerhouse represented the club from 2015-2018 and then again briefly from 2020-2021.
The club posted a video on social media of Nonu’s ex-midfield partner in France, Mathieu Bastareaud, who is now the club’s team manager, handing the two-time Top 14 finalist the number 12 jersey.
Toulon travel to eighth-placed Lyon on Saturday and their returning midfield maestro is tipped to feature at Stade de Gerland.
Pictures courtesy of JRLO and Toulon
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