Ma'a Nonu to leave Toulon at season's end with final Top 14 appearance due Saturday

Ma’a Nonu will leave Toulon when the club’s Top 14 season concludes against Castres this Saturday, the French club confirmed, ending the 44-year-old’s third stint at the Stade Mayol. Nonu is one of seven coaches and players departing after Toulon missed out on the play-offs.

The former All Blacks centre first returned to Toulon for a third spell in February last year, signing an extension that July. His 103 caps for New Zealand make him one of the most decorated players to have represented the club, which has won the Investec Champions Cup three times.

Alongside Nonu, legendary forwards coach Sergio Parisse will also leave, with the Italian set to join his country’s national coaching staff under head coach Gonzalo Quesada. Backs coach Andrea Masi, a compatriot of Parisse, and fitness coach Gilles Allou are also among those departing.

The outgoing staff and players received a send-off after Toulon’s final home game of the season on Sunday — a 27-22 victory over Bordeaux-Bègleges, who had defended their Investec Champions Cup title only a week earlier. Nonu was not included in the matchday squad for that fixture.

There has been no indication of what Nonu’s next move will be, though there is no suggestion he intends to retire from playing. The Toulon squad for Saturday’s match against Castres is expected to be announced later this week.