Ma'a Nonu
Ma'a Nonu was born in Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand on May 21st, 1982 and is the Rugby Player. At the age of 41, Ma'a Nonu biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 41 years old, Ma'a Nonu has this physical status:
Ma'a Allan Nonu (born 21 May 1982) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Blues.
He plays in the center but can also cover outside center and wing.
He was a key player in the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only 20 dual Rugby Union World Cup winners.
Personal life
When playing in Toulon, Nonu became a vegetarian, citing his son Michael as his inspiration: "Michael, my second one," he says. I was trying to feed him meat – chicken – growing up, but he didn't like it. I was like, 'let's try something new.' I said, 'I'm not going to eat meat because I feel sorry for him enough, so he'll (feel) stink. If we're going out and I'm ordering a T-bone steak and he's eating his spinach and cucumber, I'm sure I'll not eat meat because I'll be the same as him."
According to Nonu, part of the reason why he was in good shape and fitness during his senior years was because he was so careful about what he ate, despite his advancing years, and he credited his new diet with his revival in Super Rugby for the Blues at 37 years old. "It's helped me physically and I love it," says the author.
Career
Nonu attended Strathmore Park Primary School in Wellington, then enrolled Rongotai College in Wellington. He starred Oriental Rongotay in the Wellington tournament at club level. He served with the Wellington Secondary Schools team in 1999-2000 and the Wellington Under 19s team in 2001. As a youth, he competed in rugby league.
In the 2003 Super 12, he made his provincial debut for Wellington in the 2002 NPC and debuted for the Hurricanes. In 2004, he played for the New Zealand Sevens. Nonu made his Test debut for the All Blacks on June 14, 2003, starting at center in a 15-13 loss to England, on the back of some outstanding Super 12 results.
With the selectors selecting Umaga, Aaron Mauger, and Daniel Carter in the midfield, Nonu was left out of the 2003 Tri Nations' selection for the 2003 Tri Nations. He was selected for the All Blacks' 2003 World Cup squad and competed in pool matches against Canada, Italy, and Tonga. He scored his first Test match against Canada, and was remarkably fast on attack and linebreaking, and his massive stature was intimidating to the opposition. Despite an injury to Umaga, however, questions regarding his defensive game and inexperience meant he was not chosen for the knockout stage of the tournament.
After a form slump in the Super 12, Nonu made his selection for the Tri Nations in 2004. He forced his way back to action in the 2004 NPC by playing as a substitute in all four games on the All Blacks' undefeated end of year tour to Europe.
For the bulk of the 2005 Super 12, Nonu was on the wing, with Conrad Smith preferred as Umaga's midfield partner. The Brumbies, the 2004 Super 12 champions, had a hat trick during their standout performances. In the 2005 All Blacks trial, Nonu played at second five-eighth for the Possibles, scoring two tries and setting up two more to help the Possibles win over the Probables. He appeared in the second Test against the 2005 British & Irish Lions as a replacement, replacing Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wing. He has been ruled out of the 2005 Tri Nations games once more.
During the 2005 NPC, Wellington Lions captain Umaga was restaged, and in his absence, Nonu was promoted to the team's captaincy. He established himself as one of New Zealand's most attacking midfield runners during the NPC. He was chosen for the 2005 All Blacks Grand Slam tour, serving Tests against Wales and Scotland as a substitute and getting his third Test appearance against Ireland. During the Test against Ireland, he was charged with a suspected spear tackle against Brian O'Driscoll, but was later cleared of the charge.
In 2006, Nonu was ruled out of the Tri Nations squad due to injury, with Mils Muliaina being selected to take his place. He fractured the base of his left thumb playing rugby in Wellington, which required him to have surgery. He was, however, included in the All Blacks' end-of-year tour.
Nonu was able to attend every game with the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup, which greatly aided them. Nonu was left out on the 2007 Rugby World Cup's pickors, with selectors selecting Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister, Conrad Smith, and Isaia Toeava in the centers.
The game against Argentina on September 28th was their first international match in partnership with Conrad Smith.
After the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Nonu expressed the desire to change codes to rugby league and play in the National Rugby League (NRL). A move to the United Kingdom was seen as more likely since he wasn't included in Graham Henry's 2007 squad, but the Junior All Blacks were suspended instead.
Nonu was back to the All Blacks in 2008, beginning in the majority of tests throughout the year and being the All Blacks first choice inside center.
In a friendly against Fiji, Nonu played his first international of 2011 in a friendly.
He was in New Zealand's first Tri-Nations game against South Africa. The All Blacks won 40-7. He then proceeded to play in New Zealand's next game in the Tri-Nations against Australia, where he scored the opening try. He scored his 21st international try in the tournament's last game against Australia.
Nonu was selected for the All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup. In the All Blacks' opening match against Tonga, he scored his last attempt. On October 23, 2011, he competed against France, whom the All Blacks beat by 8-7 to become world champions.
Following the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Nonu joined the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan on a short-term'sabbatical'. He scored six tries and received one yellow card in 12 games for the Rams.
Nonu announced on July 1 that he had signed a two-year deal with the Blues. This was after the Hurricanes announced that he would not be resigned after the 2011 Super Rugby season.
In round three of the 2012 Super Rugby season, Nonu made his Blues debut. Nonu's 2012 was also a 'below-par' season for the university in terms of form and his struggle to return to the No.'s top-ranked' list. The All Blacks have 12 jerseys. Following his return from his Black Rams sabbatical, Nonu's results were met with skepticism, which culminated in his exclusion from the France test series's match-day 22. Sonny Bill Williams, who's form and consistency kept Nonu out of the 12 jersey until Week 3 of the 2012 Rugby Championship, and his absence was sonny. In the first week of the inaugural Rugby Championship at 13, center, with Sonny Bill at 12, forming what was regarded as the most 'destructive' centre pairing in world rugby due to injury to former Hurricane Coward Conrad Smith.
Nonu was recalled to the All Blacks number 12 jersey on the back of a bicycle. Following Williams' transfer to Japan and later the NRL, Nonu performed just one of the remaining tests as the second five-eighth, except against Scotland, where he came off the bench.
After one season in Auckland, Nonu moved to Dunedin, where he signed a one-year contract with the Highlanders for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
After struggling to find a Super Rugby team for 2014 (where all 5 New Zealand franchises initially said they weren't involved in signing him), Nonu's return to the Blues for another season is long-awaited. He made himself available to continue playing for the All Blacks throughout 2014 and eventually be selected for the Rugby World Cup in England the following year.
Nonu's return to the Hurricanes for the 2015 Super Rugby season, the team he left in 2011. Former Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett's departure to the Cardiff Blues was speculated to have paved the way for his return.
Nonu will be joining Top 14 side Toulon after the 2015 Rugby World Cup on a two-year contract, according to the article on December 20, 2014.
Nonu was selected as the starting center for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and he has appeared in virtually every pool game. Nonu participated in every knockout match and even scored a 50m solo effort to help the All Blacks beat Australia 34-17 in the final.
Nonu was elected a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby in the 2016 New Year Honours.
Nonu has signed with the Blues for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Nonu will play for the San Diego Legion in the 2020 season, according to Major League Rugby in October 2019. Nonu was proclaimed captain of the San Diego Legion for the 2022 season.