Ex-All Black re-signs for another season at 41

Ma’a Nonu has re-signed with the San Diego Legion in the United States’ Major League Rugby competition.

There were eight players of Pacific descent involved in winning New Zealand’s third Rugby World Cup in 2015, and incredibly, more than half of those are still playing professional rugby.

Forty-one year old Ma’a Nonu returns to the rugby field for another year, re-signing with the San Diego Legion. The Wellington-born center debuted as a professional 22 years ago and will go again in this year's Major League Rugby competition.

Nonu has played over 480 professional rugby games, with over one hundred of those with the All Blacks and Hurricanes.

The Legion is coached by former All Black halfback Danny Lee, who is thrilled by Nonu's return.

“We are thrilled to have Ma'a back ... Ma'a had a major influence on our team last season on and off the field and was a major factor in us having a very successful season, playing in the MLR final and us breaking Club and League records along the way,"

2015 All Blacks

Nonu is one of five Pacific All Blacks from the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad still playing, nine years after the historic tournament win.

Charlie Faumuina

The front rower continued to play for the All Blacks Until 2017, completing 50 test caps. Faumuina would then move to France in 2017, to play for Toulouse in the Top 14 competition where he played 129 games. He then gained his first test cap for Manu Samoa last year, before running out for the side at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Malakai Fekitoa

The dynamic Tongan midfielder played on for the All Blacks until 2017, moving to France playing for Toulon in the Top 14 where he would play for two years. Fekitoa then headed to England, playing for the Wasps, Munster and Benetton where he is currently. In 2022, Fekitoa became eligible to play for the ‘Ikale Tahi, and made his debut in 2022.

Waisake Naholo

The flying Fijian continued to lace-up for the All Blacks, being named in the Rugby Championship squad for 2016, 2017 British and Irish Lions tour and played his last test in 2018. Naholo finished his time at the Highlanders in 2019, signing with the London Irish in 2020. He played for Canterbury and Crusaders, before Rugby New York where he has remained since.

Julian Savea

The All Blacks’ leading try-scorer finished playing for the All Blacks in 2017, continuing his Super Rugby career at the Hurricanes until 2018. He then signed with French club Toulon where he spent two years, before returning to the Hurricanes from 2021 to 2023. Savea is now signed with Moana Pasifika for 2024 onwards.