Former All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu has become the highest-profile player to commit to a Major League Rugby franchise, signing with San Diego Legion.

The 37-year-old two-time World Cup winner announced on Thursday he was quitting the Auckland-based Blues Super Rugby team to play in the fast-growing North American league in 2020.

Nonu is a veteran of 103 Tests and more than 300 professional games, winning World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, five Tri-Nations or Rugby Championship titles and eight Bledisloe Cup series.

He played Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and Highlanders and spent three seasons with French club Toulon before joining the Blues last year.

However he failed to win New Zealand selection for the current World Cup in Japan, making a comeback to international rugby unlikely.

His signing with San Diego is a major coup for the MLR.

“Ma’a is a huge addition for us,” Legion head coach Rob Hoadley said. “It is undeniable that he will have a major impact on the MLR this season.”

Major League Rugby played its inaugural season in 2018.

The competition now features 12 teams – 11 from the US and one from Canada – with the Seattle Seawolves claiming its first two titles.