All Blacks icon Ma’a Nonu has made a shock return to Top 14 outfit Toulon with immediate effect, at the age of 42. 

The centre is back in the South of France following a five-year stint in the USA, playing for the San Diego Legion.

Ma’a Nonu makes stunning Toulon return

Nonu has already had two stints with the French heavyweights. His first came between 2015 and 2019, before later returning in 2020, and across his spells has notched 93 appearances for the club.

He now returns as a medical joker with immediate effect and is eligible to play in their upcoming Top 14 clash against Lyon.

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At the time of writing, Toulon sit second in the Top 14 table, just three points off current European and French champions Toulouse.

“Welcome back. Ma’a Nonu is back on the Rade as a medical joker until the end of the season,” a statement on the club’s official X account read.

The 42-year-old made his professional debut with Wellington back in 2002, before going onto make his Hurricanes bow a year later. He left the ‘Canes in 2012, though, to join the Blues, before moving to the Highlanders. After just one season in Dunedin, he headed to Toulon. Nonu did later return to the ‘Canes for one final season in 2015.

But, it was on the Test stage where he made a real name for himself as one of the greatest centres to ever play the game. Nonu made his All Blacks debut in 2003, and went on to win 103 caps across his 12-year Test career. In that time, he also helped them claim back-to-back World Cup titles – including the 2011 triumph in New Zealand.

Nonu was also awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019.

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-great-maa-nonu-makes-stunning-return-to-european-giants-at-42