Ma'a Nonu secures Top 14 return aged 42

All Black great Ma'a Nonu has joined his former side Toulon as a medical joker until the end of the season.

The 42-year-old will return to the Stade Mayol for his third stint having also re-joined in 2020 as a medical joker.

Nonu spent last year with San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby, but did not continue his stay in the United States for this current campaign.

He linked up with the Toulon staff two weeks ago as he trains to become a coach, but has clearly decided he still has what it takes to help his former side, who he initially joined in 2015 after his 103-cap All Blacks career, in an emergency.

He will join a Toulon side that sit second in the Top 14 table, just three points behind reigning champions Toulouse. The Cote d'Azur outfit are fighting on two fronts this season, with a visit from Saracens in the Investec Champions Cup round of 16 in April.

Toulon face Lyon this weekend in the league, which could see the double World Cup winner mark his return and in the process become the oldest ever Top 14 player, overtaking former tighthead prop Karena Wihongi, who was 40 years and 98 days old when he made his last top-flight appearance for Castres against Agen in January 2020. With Nonu turning 43 in May, he will comfortably beat that record should he play.

There had been speculation in France that Nonu could lace his boots again when he was seen in the Toulon camp, with head coach Pierre Mignoni being coy as to whether the well-travelled Kiwi had actually brought his 23-year professional career to an end.

Nonu had made a good impression on the Toulon squad, with France international Esteban Abadie praising his new team-mate's humility.

"Nonu, I had just met him on Rugby 08!" he said, as reported by French outlet Midi Olympique. "One thing has already struck me… It's his humility! I had already experienced that with Rokocoko at Racing 92. They are legends who have marked the history of our sport, and they come to the clubs with the humility of a youngster. Both show a lot of respect. It makes you think."