Sharks sign former All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu

The Sharks rugby club in Durban has signed legendary former All Blacks centre Maa Nonu to a short-term contract, the team announced on July 25, 2026. The 44-year-old, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner with 103 Test caps for New Zealand, will join the South African side primarily in a high-performance mentorship and leadership role.

Nonu’s move, confirmed in an official statement from the Sharks, is designed to accelerate the development of the club’s next generation of players. He will work alongside the coaching staff to support player development and strengthen the team’s high-performance culture. Sharks CEO Shaun Bryans said the opportunity to have someone of Nonu’s caliber in the environment is rare and invaluable for the club’s future. Bryans emphasized that beyond Nonu’s exceptional on-field achievements, it is his professionalism, leadership, and understanding of sustained success at the highest level that will benefit the playing group over the coming months.

The signing was facilitated by Nonu’s longstanding relationship with Sharks head coach JP Pietersen, a former Springbok opponent who later became a teammate at French club Toulon. Pietersen stated that the best...