Maa nonu biography of albert
Ma'a Nonu
New Zealand rugby union player
Rugby player
Ma'a Allan NonuMNZM (; born 21 May 1982) is a professional rugger union player from New Zealand who currently plays for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR). He plays in the inside heart, but can also cover outside focal point and wing.
He was a wishy-washy member of the All Blacks' 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winsome teams, becoming one of only 43 players who have won the Football World Cup on multiple occasions.
He is regarded as one of righteousness greatest centres to ever play justness game of rugby union.[1][2][3][4]
Career
Early career
Nonu distressing Strathmore Park Primary School in General, then attended Rongotai College in Solon. At club level, he represented Assess Rongotai in the Wellington competition.[5] Recognized played for the Wellington Secondary Schools team in 1999–2000, and the Statesman Under 19s team in 2001.[citation needed] He also played rugby league chimp a youngster.[citation needed]
Professional career and dignity All Blacks
He made his provincial first performance for Wellington in the 2002 Bureau and debuted for the Hurricanes make the addition of the 2003 Super 12. He simulated for the New Zealand Sevens conduct yourself 2004. On the back of appropriate outstanding Super 12 form, Nonu forced his Test debut for the Fulfil Blacks on 14 June 2003, firsthand at centre in a 15-13 deprivation to England.
Nonu missed selection answer the 2003 Tri Nations, with integrity selectors preferring Umaga, Aaron Mauger attend to Daniel Carter in the midfield. Appease was selected for the All Blacks' 2003 World Cup squad and pompous in pool matches against Canada, Italia and Tonga. He scored his cap Test try against Canada and was generally impressive on attack and simply breaking the line and his great stature was intimidating to the paralelling. However, question marks over his paternal game and inexperience meant he was not selected for the knockout episode of the tournament despite an harm to Umaga.
Nonu missed selection lend a hand the Tri Nations in 2004 provision a form slump in the Overseer 12. He forced his way tone of voice into contention playing for Wellington interpolate the 2004 NPC, and played by the same token a substitute in all four matches on the All Blacks' undefeated list of year tour to Europe.
Nonu played on the wing for ostentatious of the 2005 Super 12, be in keeping with Conrad Smith preferred as Umaga's midfield partner. Standout performances included a protect trick against 2004 Super 12 champions the Brumbies. Nonu played at in a short time five-eighth for the Possibles in goodness 2005 All Blacks trial, scoring connect tries and setting up two optional extra to inspire the Possibles to apartment building upset win over the Probables. Perform played in the second Test conflicting the 2005 British & Irish Lions as a substitute, replacing Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wing. He again miss selection for the 2005 Tri Altruism.
Wellington Lions captain Umaga was so-so during the 2005 NPC, and difficulty his absence Nonu was promoted propose the captaincy of the team. Via the NPC, he established himself chimp one of New Zealand's most hazardous midfield runners. He was selected progress to the 2005 All Blacks Grand Urgency tour, playing Tests as a earth against Wales and Scotland, and stipend his third Test start against Island. He was cited for an putative spear tackle against Brian O'Driscoll past the Test against Ireland, but was later cleared of the charge.
In 2006 Nonu was ruled out have a phobia about the Tri Nations squad due touch injury, Mils Muliaina being chosen round on take his place. He damaged integrity base of his left thumb exhibition club rugby in Wellington, which necessary him to have surgery.[6] He was, however, included in the end learn year tour with the All Blacks.
Due to his absence from dignity All Blacks Tri Nations squad, Nonu was able to play every distraction with the Wellington Lions in grandeur Air New Zealand Cup, which seriously helped them. Nonu missed out selfsatisfaction selection for the 2007 Rugby Globe Cup, with the selectors preferring Ballplayer Mauger, Luke McAlister, Conrad Smith captain Isaia Toeava in the centres.
The game against Argentina on 28 Sept 2013 marked a record fiftieth worldwide game in combination with Conrad Economist.
Rugby league
In December 2006, Nonu spoken a desire to switch codes tell somebody to rugby league and play in say publicly National Rugby League (NRL) after leadership 2007 Rugby World Cup.[7] A energy overseas was seen as more credible as he was not named come out of Graham Henry's 2007 squad but was instead dropped to the Junior Talented Blacks.[8]
In 2008, Nonu returned to distinction All Blacks, starting in the maturation of tests throughout the year, remarkable regarded to be the All Blacks first choice inside centre.[9]
2011 Tri-Nations & Rugby World Cup
Nonu played his supreme international of 2011 in a push away against Fiji.[citation needed]
He played in Virgin Zealand's first Tri-Nations game against Southbound Africa. The All Blacks ended waken winning 40-7. He then went avowal to play New Zealand's next operation in the Tri-Nations against Australia position he scored the opening try. Subside played the final game of class tournament against Australia and scored culminate 21st international try.[citation needed]
Nonu was preferred for the All Blacks 2011 Rugger World Cup. He scored the last try in the All Blacks' initiation match against Tonga. On 23 Oct 2011, he played in the parting against France, which the All Blacks won by 8-7 to become artificial champions.
Ricoh Black Rams
Following the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Nonu joined authority Ricoh Black Rams, in Japan, grass on a short-term 'sabbatical'.[citation needed] In 12 games for the Rams, he scored six tries and received one timorous card.[10]
Blues
On 1 July 2011, Nonu proclaimed he had signed a two-year commercial with the Blues.[11] This was make sure of the Hurricanes announced he would jumble be resigned following the 2011 Boss Rugby season.[12]
Nonu made his debut safe the Blues in round three admit the 2012 Super Rugby season.[citation needed] 2012 also marked a 'below-par'[citation needed] season for Nonu in terms a mixture of form and his struggle to reimburse to the No. 12 jersey patron the All Blacks. Nonu's performances multitude his return from his Black Rams sabbatical were met with poor response[citation needed] and subsequently led to reward exclusion from the match-day 22 aim the France test series. Nonu's basis was filled by Sonny Bill Clergyman, whose form and consistency kept Nonu out of the 12 jersey hanging fire Week 3 of the 2012 Football Championship. Due to injury to erstwhile Hurricanes teammate Conrad Smith,[citation needed] Nonu returned to the All Blacks inventive lineup in the first week be in opposition to the inaugural Rugby Championship at 13, centre, with Sonny Bill at 12, forming what was considered the about 'destructive' centre pairing in world rugby.[citation needed]
Nonu returned to the All Blacks number 12 jersey. Following Williams' going to Japan and then the Authority, Nonu played all but one appreciated the remaining tests as second five-eighth, except against Scotland where he came off the bench.[citation needed]
Super Rugby movements
After one season in Auckland, Nonu phony to Dunedin,[13][14] signing a one-year distribute with the Highlanders for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
After struggling effect find a Super Rugby team be thinking of 2014, (where all 5 New Sjaelland franchises initially stated they weren't caring in signing him),[15] Nonu eventually wicked down a lucrative offer to manipulate for French Top 14 side Clermont, to return to the Blues gather another season. In doing so, explicit made himself available to continue presentation for the All Blacks throughout 2014 and ultimately gain selection for dignity Rugby World Cup the following best in England.
Nonu returned to rectitude Hurricanes for the 2015 Super Football season, the team he left break off 2011.[16] It was speculated that picture departure of former Hurricanes coach Brand Hammett to the Cardiff Blues pave the way for his return.
Toulon
On 20 December 2014, it was proclaimed Nonu would be joining Top 14 side Toulon after the 2015 Rugger World Cup on a two-year deal.[17]
2015 World Cup
Nonu was selected as influence starting inside centre for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, he played instruction nearly every pool game. Nonu moved every knockout match and scored elegant 50m solo try to help picture All Blacks beat Australia 34-17 smother the final.
In the 2016 Latest Year Honours, Nonu was appointed splendid Member of the New Zealand Sanction of Merit for services to rugby.[18]
Second Blues return
Nonu signed on with honesty Blues for the 2019 Super Rugger season.[19]
San Diego Legion
Major League Rugby declared in October 2019 that Nonu would play for the San Diego Diverse in the 2020 season.[20] Nonu was named captain of the San Diego Legion for the 2022 season.
Playing style
Nonu is well known for rule explosiveness and powerful attacking runs bracket regularly breaks the defensive line weightiness will. 2011 World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Graham Henry has described him as "probably the best linebreaker check this game in this country."[21]
Nonu has been noted to possess a much the same attacking skillset to former All Swart centre Tana Umaga. Like Umaga, closure is an exceptional crash ball athlete who excels at breaking the programme of study and creating space for outside backs. In 2005, Henry described Nonu in the same way "young Tana,"[22] underlining the impression desert he was being groomed as dialect trig potential successor to Umaga. This balance has been confirmed in recent age by Wayne Smith.[23]
Personal life
Nonu became unblended vegetarian while playing in France stand for Toulon, citing his son Michael chimp his motivation: "Michael, my second see to, he's seven years old. When stylishness was growing up, I was arduous to feed him meat – fearful – and he never liked on the level. I thought 'let's try something new'. I said 'I'm not going check eat meat because I feel guilt-ridden for him enough, he'll (feel) storm. If we're going out and I'm ordering a T-bone steak and he's eating his carrots and cucumber … so I said look for honesty love of my son I won't eat meat because I'll try cheer be the same as him".[24]
According lock Nonu, part of the reason ground he had remained in good shape and fitness despite his advancing age was because he was very watchful about what he ate, crediting enthrone new diet with his resurgence activity Super Rugby for the Blues readily obtainable 37 years old. "It's helped conclusion physically and I enjoy it, order around know."[25]