Ma’a Nonu Creates Goosebumps Moment With Solo Haka Response Before Sharks-All Blacks Clash
- Ma’a Nonu produced a memorable moment at Kings Park as the Sharks prepared to face the All Blacks in a highly anticipated Greatest Rivalry Tour clash
- The former New Zealand international found himself at the centre of attention after his old side completed its traditional haka before the match
- With his Sharks teammates behind him, Nonu stepped forward in a moment that quickly became one of the talking points from the Durban encounter
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Ma’a Nonu created a goosebumps moment at Kings Park on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, when the Sharks veteran responded to the All Blacks’ haka with a solo performance of his own before their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash.
Ma’a Nonu responds to All Blacks haka
The 44-year-old was named among the Sharks replacements for the Durban encounter, having joined the side on a short-term contract shortly before the match.
After New Zealand completed its traditional haka, Nonu stepped forward from the Sharks’ ranks and delivered his own haka.
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His teammates stood behind him as he performed the solo response, creating one of the most memorable scenes of the evening.
Former All Black faces his old side
Nonu knows the All Blacks better than most. He made 103 Test appearances for New Zealand and won two Rugby World Cups before retiring from international rugby in 2015.
The reunion added significance to his Sharks debut, with the veteran facing the country he represented for more than a decade.
Sharks suffer heavy defeat in Durban
The emotional build-up was followed by a difficult night for the Sharks, who were beaten 54-0 by the All Blacks.
The result could not overshadow Nonu’s pre-match moment, which quickly became one of the defining images from the Durban fixture.
The Sharks later thanked supporters who attended Kings Park despite the cold and rainy conditions.
Victor Matfield’s verdict on Ma’a Nonu’s Sharks role
Briefly News previously reported that former Springboks captain Victor Matfield had given his backing to the Sharks’ decision to bring Ma’a Nonu to Durban. The move was always about more than what the veteran could produce on the field.
Matfield highlighted one particular quality Nonu brings to the Sharks that could prove especially valuable to the club’s younger players. Another New Zealand rugby great also weighed in on the move and offered an interesting perspective on Nonu’s next chapter.
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Source: Briefly News
