All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu will make a sensational return to face his former country. The 44-year-old midfielder has been included in the No. 23 jersey for the upcoming clash at Kings Park. Consequently, this Ma’a Nonu Sharks team inclusion stands out as a major storyline for the second fixture of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
Legendary Return: Ma’a Nonu Sharks Squad Inclusion
Nonu played 103 Tests for New Zealand between 2003 and 2015. Furthermore, he was a key figure in the back-to-back Rugby World Cup winning sides of 2011 and 2015. He joined the Durban-based franchise recently as part of a high-performance mentorship program alongside head coach JP Pietersen.
However, Nonu remained available to play. Now, he gets the unique opportunity to line up against the national side he served with distinction for over a decade.
“Bringing veteran experience into a youthful squad environment creates invaluable learning opportunities for our upcoming players,” noted the coaching setup ahead of team selection.
Sharks Lineup and Match Background
Sharks head coach JP Pietersen has selected a strong mix of youth and international experience. No. 8 Nick Hatton captains the side, while two-time Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok Vincent Koch starts at tighthead prop.
Meanwhile, the visitor squad arrives in Durban following a hard-fought 38-21 victory over the DHL Stormers in Cape Town. The scores were tied 14-14 during the second half before New Zealand pulled away in the closing stages. This historic tour represents the team’s first full-scale South African tour since 1996.
Full Hollywoodbets Sharks Squad to Face All Blacks
Here is the confirmed match-day squad for the Durban encounter:
- Starting XV: 15. Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14. Donovan Don, 13. Jurenzo Julius, 12. Murray Koster, 11. Litelihle Bester, 10. Vusi Moyo, 9. Bradley Davids, 8. Nick Hatton (c), 7. Manu Tshituka, 6. Phepsi Buthelezi, 5. Emile van Heerden, 4. Hendre Stassen, 3. Vincent Koch, 2. Eduan Swart, 1. Nemo Roelofse.
- Replacements: 16. Liam van Wyk, 17. Rambo Kubekha, 18. Simphiwe Ngobese, 19. Vincent Tshituka, 20. Matt Romao, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Luan Giliomee, 23. Ma’a Nonu.
Match Details and Coverage
The match takes place at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Tuesday, 11 August, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 PM local time (5:00 AM Wednesday, 12 August NZT). English referee Matthew Carley will officiate the match.
Are you excited to watch this historic encounter live? Check out our updated All Blacks 2026 Schedule page for complete match times. For fans planning to attend live games, visit our All Blacks 2026 Tickets Guide. Stay up to date with daily team news on our main Rugby News Hub, and follow team rankings on World Rugby.