John Plumtree has confirmed he stopped over to see Ma'a Nonu for a possible move to the Sharks.
According to Plumtree, not looking realistically at 2012, but beyond due to Nonu still wanting to play for the AB'S.

Baie Interesant.

Over the years, The Sharks have gone for French and Argentinian players, but we sometimes forget that Plumtree is a New Zealander. I think it will be great for the Currie Cup as well to get some international flavour as with the French Top 14.

What is going on with the Sharks that they so interested in buying centres who is over 30.  Nonu is 29 and after 2012 he will be 31.  The sharks need to invest in young players! Is their acadamy not delivering anymore? Was Pat Lambie the last of a genaration?

I also heard that the Sharks are in discussions with Marius Joubert to come play for them. SERIOULSY!!!

Josh K wrote: John Plumtree has confirmed he stopped over to see Ma'a Nonu for a possible move to the Sharks.
According to Plumtree, not looking realistically at 2012, but beyond due to Nonu still wanting to play for the AB'S.

Baie Interesant.

These players that they are buying are ''laaities'' compared to Stefan Terblanche though.

if the player is quality why not , it also depends what role the coach has for the player, traditionally older players would be mentor like in their approach to the younger players.

Added to that, Nonu could impart some valuable knowledge to his fellow players ... afterall he is the best line breaker in the world game today.

ANOTHER CENTRE PSSIBLY ON THE MOVE IN NZ????

Sonny Bill thinking of leaving ‘Saders

June 24 2011 at 01:32pm

All Blacks sensation Sonny Bill Williams was considering leaving the Crusaders due to the earthquakes that have rocked the Super 15 team's home city Christchurch.

Wellington – All Blacks sensation Sonny Bill Williams was considering leaving the Canterbury Crusaders due to the earthquakes that have rocked the Super 15 team's home city Christchurch, reports said Friday.

Williams told the Christchurch Press that the quakes, including a devastating tremor in February that killed 181 people, had taken their toll during his first season with the Crusaders.

"I have loved my time down here but I won't lie, it has been pretty difficult with the earthquakes and moving around," Williams told the newspaper.

"But I am fortunate I am still here. I don't have much family down here and there are a lot of people worse off than me."

The seven-times champion Crusaders have been unable to play at their AMI Stadium home ground in Christchurch this season because it was damaged in February's earthquake.

Williams' contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union expires after the World Cup and the 25-year-old said he had not yet decided where he would play next year.

"I'm not sure," he told the Christchurch Press.

"I want to try and make my mind up, hopefully if I make the All Blacks squad, probably after the Super 15 season, when I can really sit down and have a good time to assess everything and weigh up all my options."

The newspaper reported that there was speculation Williams could move to rival New Zealand Super 15 teams the Auckland Blues or Waikato Chiefs to be closer to his mother in the North island.

Rugby union and league clubs from around the world are also reportedly chasing Williams' signature, although his Australian-based manager Khoder Nasser said last month that the NZRU was in the box seat to re-sign him.

An NZRU contract would not necessarily bind Williams to the Crusaders, giving him scope to move to another New Zealand Super 15 team while remaining eligible for All Blacks' selection.

Williams was a star in Australia's National Rugby League before being lured to wealthy French rugby union club Toulon, then returning to his native New Zealand last year to pursue his dream of playing for the All Blacks.

He has been named in the Crusaders' team to play the Coastal Sharks in Saturday's elimination playoff for a Super 15 semi-final berth in Nelson. – Sapa-AFP

Ma'a Nonu signs with Blues

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Johannesburg - The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and the Blues Super Rugby franchise announced on Thursday that All Blacks and former Hurricanes midfielder Ma'a Nonu has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) for two more years.

Nonu has signed with New Zealand rugby and the Blues for the 2012 and 2013 seasons and will also take a playing sabbatical from New Zealand rugby at the end of the year, joining the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan's Top League competition for several months before returning to New Zealand for next year's Super Rugby competition.

Nonu said: "I'm happy that I'm continuing my career in New Zealand and would like to thank the Blues for giving me the opportunity to join them. I was flattered and grateful to receive offers to play for other teams as well but the Blues was the best option for me and my family and I'm really looking forward to joining them next year.'

NZRU CEO Steve Tew welcomed 29-year-old Nonu's decision to stay in New Zealand.

"Ma'a is an outstanding, world-class player who has been committed to New Zealand rugby for the best part of a decade, and for him to commit further is fantastic news.

"We have said that we will look to be flexible when it comes to re-contracting our leading players and we think giving him the chance to play in Japan is another example of that flexibility," Tew said.

"With the rugby season finishing earlier than normal this year we were happy to provide Ma'a with a one-off opportunity to have a Japanese rugby experience without overly compromising his commitment to the Blues," he added.

Blues Coach Pat Lam said: "It's no secret there was a lot of interest in securing Ma'a by teams both locally and around the world. He is a quality player so it's great news for the Blues that he has chosen our team in which to continue his impressive rugby career."

Nonu has played 110 Super Rugby matches and 56 Test matches in a glittering rugby career and has scored 17 Test tries for 85 points.
 

He made his provincial debut in 2002 and his Super Rugby and All Blacks debut the following year.

Nonu joins a growing group of current and recent All Blacks who have recommitted to New Zealand rugby after this year's Rugby World Cup, including captain Richie McCaw and playmaker Daniel Carter, hookers Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn and Hikawera Elliot, the All Blacks most capped prop Tony Woodcock and fellow props Ben Franks and Wyatt Crockett, locks Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly and Samuel Whitelock, loose forwards Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Daniel Braid, Liam Messam and Victor Vito, and backs Jimmy Cowan, Alby Mathewson, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Aaron Cruden.

And in what looks like a major coup , the Chiefs have managed to get SBW on their books for next year.