Ma’a Nonu stood alone and delivered a solo haka before the All Blacks’ tour match in Durban, a dramatic moment during a game the visitors won 54-0, according to reporting by The Guardian.
Veteran centre answers haka with his own challenge
The former New Zealand international, whose international career spanned 104 caps, was wearing Sharks colours after being signed last week to bolster the squad and mentor younger players. At 44 years old, Nonu was named on the bench as injuries forced the Durban side to call on experience.
After the national anthems and the All Blacks’ haka, Nonu moved forward with the Sharks arrayed behind him and performed Kapa o Pango — the same haka the All Blacks had just delivered — an act that prompted an initial hush from the crowd and then a growing cheer, The Guardian reported.
“I thought it would be rude to say no,” Nonu told broadcaster SuperSport, adding that he felt it was right to answer the All Blacks on behalf of himself and his family, according to The Guardian.
The moment was notable not just for its rarity but for what it represented: a former All Black acknowledging his national team's ritual while standing for his new South African club. Several All Blacks players recognised the gesture and nodded in return, the report said.
Context and consequences
The match was the Sharks’ first meeting with New Zealand’s national side in three decades, and Nonu initially hesitated to join the matchday squad because he did not want to overshadow that occasion. He relented both to help with numbers and to aid the development of the younger Sharks players, The Guardian reported.
While the haka exchange captured headlines, the All Blacks dominated on the scoreboard. The 54-0 result leaves the Sharks with plenty to work on in the days ahead, both in defence and ball retention, as they integrate experienced signings into a side facing midseason injuries.
- Match score: All Blacks 54, Sharks 0
- Nonu’s international caps: 104 (2003–2015)
- Age: 44
- Signing: Joined the Sharks a week before the match to assist player development
For South African rugby fans, the theatre around the haka is never merely ceremonial. Teams here have a history of responding to the All Blacks’ challenge with stoicism, song or focused silence. A solo haka in reply is unprecedented for a South African side and will be debated in the rugby community for some time.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Final score | 54-0 |
| Nonu’s international appearances | 104 caps |
| Nonu’s age | 44 |
| Time since Sharks last played All Blacks | 30 years |
Nonu’s presence in the Sharks camp was described as part mentorship and part pragmatic recruitment as the team navigated injuries. According to The Guardian, he spoke to New Zealand assistant coaches Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison on the eve of the match about the prospect of replying to the haka.
Rugby purists and casual supporters alike will unpack the implications of a player answering his former national team’s ritual while representing a club in another country. Some will see it as a profound mark of respect; others may view it as an odd blending of allegiances. Either way, the image of Nonu alone, performing in front of two line-ups and a wet Durban crowd, will linger as one of the more unusual moments from the All Blacks’ tour.
On the field, the All Blacks’ superiority was clear and comprehensive. For the Sharks, the result and the circumstances that led to Nonu’s involvement underline the pressures of a long season and the value placed on experienced heads to guide emerging talent.
As the domestic season proceeds, both the Sharks and South African rugby observers will watch closely to see how this experiment in senior leadership — a high-profile veteran drafted in to steady a young squad — plays out over the coming weeks.
