Nonu (40) commits for 2023 in San Diego
NEWS: Former All Black Ma’a Nonu is returning to Major League Rugby with the announcement by San Diego Legion that the 40-year-old has re-signed a new deal with the club for the 2023 season.
It will be the third campaign for the All Blacks centurion in Southern California, having returned to the club ahead of the 2022 season after a one-year hiatus.
Nonu captained the Legion this past season and made 13 appearances including 12 starts. At 40 years old he was the oldest player on the team, and second only to fellow New Zealander Orene Ai’i across the league. Ai’i came out of retirement to solve an injury crisis for LA, becoming the oldest player in MLR history at 42 years of age.
The team is set to play in the recently-opened Snapdragon Stadium after a temporary stay at the SDSU Sports Deck in 2022.
Nonu helped the Legion to an undefeated run in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign but departed the team at its conclusion. He rejoined French Top 14 giants Toulon as a medical joker where he played 16 games during the 2020-2021 season.
Nonu was a breakout star for San Diego having scored thre tries in four appearances for the franchise during the 2020 season. He was regarded as one of the biggest names in the league at the time, and as one of the biggest signings for the 2020 season alongside the arrival of Mathieu Basteraud with Rugby New York (then known as Rugby United New York).
