Ma'a Nonu – Player Profile
Ma'a Allan Nonu, a player for the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He first started playing professional rugby in 2003. The rugby player is known for his performances while playing with teams like the Wellington Lions
and the All Blacks. Since the start of his career he has played at the position of Centre but can also play the wing position exceptionally well.
The player went to Strathmore Park Primary School in his initial years. During his secondary school years of 1999-2000, he played rugby with his school team. He then attended the Rongotai College situated in Wellington and in 2001 he played in Under-19 tournaments.
He has been nicknamed as the Rock because of his abilities in the game and his powerful running throughout a match. He is also known for his breaking of the defence lines and he has been described by Graham Henry, the All Blacks Coach, as “probably the best
linebreaker in this game in this country.”
His career in rugby started in 2002, when he played in the National Provincial Championship (NPC). He then joined the Hurricanes during the Super 12 in 2003. Nonu started off with the All Blacks in the year 2003 and in his first game, Nonu faced England
and lost by 15-13. The same year he was not able to be part a of the Tri-Nations tournament because of the selection of veteran All Blacks players like Tana Umaga, Dan Carter and Aaron Mauger. However, his performance in the season helped him achieve a position
on the team for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) of 2003’s pool matches. This same year, he did not make it to the RWC’s knock-out matches.
Similarly, Nonu was unable to play once again in the Tri-Nations in 2004, because he was not up to par with his fitness. He was laso dropped the next two years in the Tri-Nations Championships of 2005 and 2006. Furthermore, in 2005, he played the Super 12
and the NPC. For the NPC he got promoted to the captain because Umaga was missing in action.
After missing the 2006 Tri-Nations, the player had a chance to take part in the Air New Zealand Cup. In 2007, Nonu was not chosen to represent New Zealand in the RWC 2007 but this leaving out of Nonu, helped the Kiwis win the Tri-Nations 2008. In fact, his
form during the 2008 and the 2009 season was praised by all quarters.
At the Super 14 in 2010 Nonu was not a participant due to an injury. Recently, the 2011 season started for him amidst competition from players like Sonny Bill Williams who is a recent hire by the All Blacks. Aside from a shaky start in 2011, further unhappiness
for the player followed when during a game of Hurricanes against the Highlanders, Nonu was given a red card followed by a week’s ban. His contract with the Hurricanes was not renewed after this.
The player has now signed on with the Auckland Blues team for the next two years. He expresses himself by saying, “It's pretty disappointing not being required next year. I had nothing to do with the matter, but that's the way it goes. It's a shame but you
move on…I'm happy that I'm continuing my career in New Zealand and would like to thank the Blues for giving me the opportunity to join them.”
Ma’a Allan Nonu will join the Blues at the Super Rugby 2012 tournament, after he leaves the NZRU for a short period of time, in order to play with the Ricoh Black Rams of the Japan Rugby Union. This capped player is looking forward to the rest of the 2011
season.
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