Ma’a Nonu

Ma’a Nonu scored a 45-metre try at the start of the second half of the 2015 World Cup final. It was his second world title, after 2011, and he retired from international rugby immediately afterwards. He was back playing for Toulon in 2025, at forty-three.

Centre at Toulon, 1.83m and 108kg, and 44 years old.

Wellington is his home city and Rongotai College his school. He played league as well, made his provincial debut in 2002 and his Super Rugby debut with the Hurricanes in 2003, and was capped by New Zealand against England in June of that year, aged twenty-one.

The first five years did not go well. Graham Henry rated him among the best line-breakers available and still could not pick him: Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger and Conrad Smith were ahead of him, his defence was questioned, and he was moved to the wing to make room. He missed the 2007 World Cup entirely and considered switching to league in December 2006.

From 2008 the partnership with Conrad Smith settled it. Two Tri-Nations titles, three Rugby Championships, and the 2011 World Cup, in which he scored three tries in six matches and was nominated for world player of the year alongside Thierry Dusautoir, who won it.

He first came to the Top 14 after the 2015 final and played three seasons, then went home to the Blues, then to San Diego in Major League Rugby, then back to Toulon in 2020, then to San Diego again from 2022.

He is remembered as much for the dyed dreadlocks and the eyeliner as for being one of the hardest midfield runners the game has had.