
Ma'a Nonu, 43, extends stay at Toulon for another season
Last year, Nonu became the oldest player to feature in the Top 14 after he signed a mid-season short-term contract with the club.
At age 43, Nonu has been called a "true source of inspiration for the rest of the Rouge and Noir squad" on the French club's website.
"His return to the top level has been unanimously acclaimed."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including what the jury saw at the mushroom murder trial, where house prices are climbing, and why YouTube's biggest star has business plans in NZ. (Source: 1News)
ADVERTISEMENT
Nonu played 103 Tests for the All Blacks, and won two World Cups.
He has also played for the Highlanders, Blues and Hurricanes, along with clubs in both the US and Japan.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Paul Henry sails from Auckland to Fiji, compares journey to childbirth
Former All Black Ian Jones weighs in on the weekend's win Former All Black Ian Jones talks to Ryan Bridge about the All Blacks victory against the French on Saturday. Video / NZHerald


Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
NZ Shearers Look Forward To Welsh Challenge
"Everything's still new to me over here" - French Open winner Toa Henderson looks forward to Welsh challenge New Zealand shearing champion Toa Henderson's first Open final win in the Northern Hemisphere was a big confidence booster, but he says he's still learning as he goes. He claimed the win in the French Open international final on Sunday during the French shearing and woolhandling championships at Boussac, the third stop on the Wool's of New Zealand team's 2025 tour and on which he and teammate Jack Fagan also scored a big win over France representatives Jeremy Leygonie and Pierre Grancher. But despite a team record of two test-match wins in his first tests in the New Zealand singlet and places in the Open finals at all three stops, Henderson holds no expectations as he and Fagan face a three-test series against Wales, starting against Welsh guns Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones at the Cothi Shears on Saturday. 'I can't wait to take on the Welsh, it will be good experience, but everything is still new for me over here,' said Henderson, whose wins at the Golden Shears and New Zealand Championships earlier this year took him past 40 wins in Open finals, of which 35 have come in the three years since the disruptions of the Covid era. While dominating home tests in the annual home-and-away series' against Wales, New Zealand series wins in Wales are rare, and it won't get any easier with the in-form Welsh, particularly Lewis, who beat Fagan and Henderson in a Great Yorkshire Show Open win in England last Wednesday, and on Saturday shore 696 sheep in setting a two-stand British eight-hour ewes record with fellow Welsh shearer Llyr Evans. Lewis, who has shorn about 10 downunder summers in New Zealand, was also in the Welsh teams that won at Cothi in 2023 and 2024. The Open at Boussac on Sunday attracted 36 shearers, with Henderson being the top qualifier from the semi-final to the six-man, of 20 blackface lambs each. He later described the 13m 50s first-to-finish shear as a 'good warm-up'. Fagan, the defending champion, was next-off 26 seconds later and beaten by 1.6pts, with French shearer Jeremy Leygonie third a further 3.7pts away. In the test, also over 20 sheep each, Henderson finished more than a minute ahead of Fagan, and both Frenchmen, while Fagan had the best quality points, in a black-singlets win by 11pts overall. Fagan won the Boussac Speed Shear earlier in the weekend, with Henderson claiming second place. Henderson's third placing at the Great Yorkshire Show and win at Boussac followed a fourth placing in the Scottish black face shearing championships final when the tour opened at the Lochearnhead Shears in Scotland on June 28. The second test against Wales will be at the Royal Welsh Show next Wednesday, and the tour ends at the Corwen Shears on July 26. Results: International (20 sheep): New Zealand 127.6pts (Jack Fagan 15m 11s, 62.85pts; Toa Henderson 14m 9s, 64.75pts), France 138.6pts (Pierre Grancher 15m 10s, 68.35pts; Jeremy Leygonie 17m 16s, 70.25pts). New Zealand won by 11pts. French International Open (20 sheep): Toa Henderson (New Zealand) 13m 50s, 56.55pts, 1; Jack Fagan (New Zealand) 14m 16s, 58.1pts, 2; Jeremy Leygonie (France) 15m 53s, 61.8pts, 3; Pierre Grancher (France) 16m 19s, 66.5pts, 4; Ilan Jones (Wales) 17m 15s, 67.55pts, 5; Felix Cesbron (France) 19m 47s, 80.3pts, 6.

1News
19 hours ago
- 1News
'Pretty unique' - All Blacks keep open mind on Boks' tactics
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus is pushing the boundaries of rugby's laws again, as evidenced during his team's recent big win over Italy, and counterpart Scott Robertson says the All Blacks will be expecting the unexpected in the two Tests against the old foe in September. It says something about the All Blacks' comfortable 43-17 victory in the second Test against a much-changed France in Wellington at the weekend that two days later the biggest points of interest in Robertson's press conference in Hamilton were South Africa's controversial tactics during their 45-0 win in Gqeberha. The Boks' victory featured a deliberate short first kick-off by the home side to manufacture a scrum (which should have been a penalty as the South African receiver caught the ball in an offside position), and several bizarre mauls whereby the receiver of the pass was lifted like a lineout jumper in open play. The tactics have the rugby world talking – on social media, anyway – and Robertson, who will prepare the All Blacks for Tests against the world champions at Eden Park and Sky Stadium in September, said that wasn't a bad thing. Of the deliberate short kick-off, Robertson said: 'I did that during my time [as a player] in Perpignan, actually. We had a hell of a scrum. Kicked it out on the full … it's not new and it shows the intentions, doesn't it? That's the great thing about rugby – you can be innovative, show your strengths and surprise people.' ADVERTISEMENT Of the maul surprises – which could constitute illegal obstruction if defended smartly – Robertson said: 'Oh, look it's pretty unique, isn't it? We're talking about it, it's great for our game. That's the difference probably to other sports. People have an opinion and World Rugby will look at it. Play on or adapt and change.' Asked whether he would expect such tactics from the Boks in the Rugby Championship, he said: 'You've got to consider everything.' Erasmus, previously banned for criticising match officials but generally regarded as a rugby mastermind in South Africa, is not one to shirk attention or controversy. Whether the Boks attempt such whacky moves in New Zealand remains to be seen but there will be a plan beyond the obvious. Call it an early shot in a psychological battle or a genuine attempt to change things up, Erasmus likes to plan several steps ahead – helped by adviser Jaco Peyper, a former Test referee. His "bomb squad" reserves bench is not universally loved either but there are few better at finding apparent weaknesses in the game's laws and exploiting them for all they are worth. Closer to home, and the All Blacks are shaping their attack in far more subtle ways. ADVERTISEMENT It was clear at the Cake Tin that they wanted to be more direct than they were in the first Test and that was evidenced in an attack which attempted to go through the front door rather than the side. Damian McKenzie is a good possibility to start in the No.10 jersey for the All Blacks in the third Test. (Source: Photosport) In Dunedin, the All Blacks got excellent results when finding first-five Beauden Barrett or fullback Damian McKenzie behind the front pod of players. Rushing to the front line, the French defence was bamboozled time and again. At the weekend, much of the play went through second-five Jordie Barrett in the front line. It is clear the All Blacks are developing at least two lines of attack, something acknowledged by Robertson today. 'Depth is one way to attack teams that 'line speed' you and we can play flat as well so we're concentrating on both – to do everything.' His answer to the trick lineout move at the Cake Tin finished by halfback Cam Roigard could also apply here – as indeed it could the Springboks at the weekend. ADVERTISEMENT 'Something you haven't seen is the hardest thing to defend,' Robertson said. Loose forward Luke Jacobson, one of several Chiefs players likely to get an opportunity in the third Test against France at Waikato Stadium on Saturday, said he trained fully last week following his head injury in the Super Rugby final and was available for selection. Robertson will name his team on Thursday, with several changes likely, including Ruben Love at fullback and a new inside back starting combination of Cortez Ratima and McKenzie. 'It is extra special to be able to do it at home,' Jacobson said. 'You've got a big base of your friends and family that are here. It would be awesome to get the nod and it's nice to play at a stadium that's familiar.' Meanwhile, Robertson confirmed that wing Caleb Clarke faced up to eight weeks on the sideline due to his ankle sprain suffered in training last week.