Ma’a Nonu is set for another special moment in his long rugby career when the 44-year-old former All Blacks star faces New Zealand with the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.
Nonu signed a short-term deal with the Sharks ahead of the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa.
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner has been named on the Sharks bench for the match. He is expected to play only a short spell, but his presence will add extra interest to the game.
Nonu has not played for the All Blacks since the 2015 Rugby World Cup, when he helped New Zealand win the title in England.
Since then, he has played in France and the United States before joining the Sharks, mainly to help mentor their younger players.
Sharks head coach and former Springbok JP Pietersen has a long-standing relationship with Nonu and was keen to give him the chance to face his former team.
When Nonu joined the Sharks in June, Pietersen said: “The best players don’t just leave memories, they leave standards. That’s what Ma’a brings.”
Nonu said he was excited to join the Sharks and help develop the club’s younger players.
“The Sharks are one of the world’s most iconic rugby clubs and Durban has always been a special place for me to travel to,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity to give back to the game. Working alongside the future stars of our sport is exciting.”
The Sharks have been promoting Nonu heavily on their social media as they build interest in the match.
He only joined the squad last week and was welcomed with a Sharks jersey by 22-year-old midfielder Jurenzo Julius, who is almost half Nonu’s age.
It is rare for former All Blacks to play against New Zealand, although it has happened before.
In 2017, several former and future All Blacks played for the Barbarians against New Zealand in London. The All Blacks won that match 31-22.
The Sharks have named a young team for Wednesday’s match, with several leading Springboks unavailable. Two-time Rugby World Cup-winning prop Vincent Koch provides some experience, while recent Test debutant Vusi Moyo will start at first five-eighth.
The All Blacks will name their team on Monday morning (NZ time).
For Nonu, the match will be another remarkable chapter in a career that includes 103 Tests and two Rugby World Cup titles.
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