Ma’a Nonu might have dropped hint over career move after fellow All Black moves
Top 14 champions Montpellier confirmed the arrival of 27-cap All Black loosehead Karl Tu’inukuafe today despite the signing being revealed five months ago.
The 29-year-old shared an Instagram message last week at Auckland International Airport saying goodbye to New Zealand, then was spotted at Montpellier’s match against Toulouse in what was the beginning of his deal in the south of France, which was due to start at the end of the Rugby Championship.
Despite not actually playing in the Rugby Championship, earning his last All Blacks cap against Ireland in July, his contract began on October 1.
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C’est désormais officiel : Karl Tu’inukuafe est montpelliérain ! Le pilier All Black intègre dès à présent l’effectif des Cistes jusqu’en 2025 !
Plus d’infos ➡️ https://t.co/OLOsNmVctt#TEAMMHR pic.twitter.com/7of51CTVvN
— Montpellier Rugby (@MHR_officiel) October 6, 2022
Perhaps what is most interesting about this whole move though is a comment that was left by fellow All Black Ma’a Nonu on Instagram.
The All Blacks centurion wrote in the comments, “Fa roomie …. See you over there,” hinting at what might be the next move in the 40-year-old’s storied career. Journalist Illtud Dafydd noticed this comment and shared it on Twitter recently:
Ex-#AllBlacks prop Karl Tu’inukuafe on his way to France
Montpellier have yet to announce his signing
Ma’a Nonu’s comment is subtle#Top14 pic.twitter.com/x4mkRQDPs4
— Illtud W. Dafydd (@IlltudDafydd) October 1, 2022
While the pair never actually played alongside one another for the All Blacks, they did with the Blues, and they might be teaming up in some capacity in the future.
This message could mean many different things though, and does not suggest that a move to play rugby in France is back on the cards for the double World Cup winner, who enjoyed a spell at Toulon after the 2015 World Cup. Nonu spent 2022 with the San Diego Legion in the United States’ Major League Rugby, but the next move in his globetrotting career is always a mystery.
