“A super exciting challenge”: at 42, Ma’a Nonu expected with Toulon to face Perpignan

He’s back! The All Black Ma’a Nonu appears for the first time in the group of 30 RC Toulon players summoned Thursday to face Perpignan, Saturday evening, during the 19th day of Top 14. The 42-year-old New Zealand center, which signed a medical joker contract on the harbor for the end of the season, could therefore replay in the French rugby championship this Saturday at 9:05 p.m. Four years after leaving the harbor and France.

“He saw it as a super exciting challenge. I told him that we would do things intelligently, he will play when it will be the moment, we give up time. He has to find sensations but he has a lot of appetite, “said Pierre Mignoni at a press conference on Thursday.

Returned to New Zealand after his visit to the staff last February, Ma’a Nonu, 103 selections with the All Blacks, prepared physically before returning to training in the Var.

“A little shocked by his physical level at his age”

“He worked very hard, he had a fairly steep program but he sent all his sessions with comments on everything he was doing,” said Toulon manager. The pillar of the XV of France Jean-Baptiste Gros told him “a little shocked by his physical level at his age”.

Ma’a Nonu was committed at the end of February with the Red and Black, after its first two passages in Toulon, from 2015 to 2018, then from 2020 to 2021. Third of the Top 14, Toulon receives Perpignan on Saturday evening to try to stay undefeated at home in the league this season.