Former NSW Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau spurned a possible overseas deal, signing a one-year contract with the ARU which will send him to the Western Force for the 2017 season.
Polota-Nau has been a mainstay of the Waratahs for much of the last decade, making 140 appearances for the side since his debut 11 years ago. He has also been a regular in the Wallabies setup, earning 68 caps for Australia in his career.
The hooker’s departure from NSW following the 2016 season is hardly unexpected – he reportedly told teammates in July that he had likely played his last game for the club – but the decision to stay with Australian rugby is less so.
There were rumours the veteran front-rower would head overseas, however, his signature will provide both the Wallabies and the Force with a major boost heading into 2017.
“I’m really looking forward to getting across to the west and joining the Force,” said Polota-Nau.
“[New coach] Dave Wessels is very impressive and there is some great young talent coming through and really good leaders at the club like Hodgo [Matt Hodgson] and the new Wallabies Dane Haylett-Petty and Adam Coleman.”
Polota-Nau is known for his passion for community rugby; he has been a board member, player and volunteer at the Parramatta Two Blues in Western Sydney during his professional career, and the hooker said the opportunity to continue his involvement with the grassroots game is one of the factors which led him to signing with the Force.
“One of the things I was keen to understand was the Force’s plans around community rugby and that’s something I’m very keen to get involved when I get over to the west.”
Polota-Nau is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery to fix a broken arm, an injury which the nuggety hooker played through for a number of months.
However, he is confident of getting fit for the start of the 2017 season for the Force and continuing his international career with the Wallabies, setting the goal of another World Cup appearance in 2019.
“Playing for Australia is the ultimate for me and I want to continue playing for the Wallabies for as long as possible. The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and having played in two, and reaching the final last year, the desire is certainly there to work towards getting another shot at the World Cup.
“Right now it’s just about getting myself ready to play and putting in a big pre-season with the Western Force ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season.”
Peter Hughes
Guest
OMG that's a poor move for Polota N. He must really love Perth as a place to live cos his Wallaby career will go down the toilet playing for Super Rugby's most boring, negative and poorly performed team :)
Doubles
Guest
No more Wallaby caps for TPN, as he has a Western Force jersey on now ..Oh wait ..Yeah... mmm He was one of Chiekas 2014 band of favourites.. He`ll be schweeeeeeeeeeeeeet..
riddler
Guest
chook.. i love the guy.. would have loved him to be the wallaby hooker all along.. great club rugby servant.. great rugby lad.. happy he will give a year to the force..
AndyS
Guest
Could be useful to RugbyWA if they use him well, and perhaps the Force if he can get fit. Still, perhaps feels a little like another case of the ARU using the Force list to keep a player around who doesn't have another home to go to...
Daveski
Guest
Fitz was part of a very good but unheralded Rays NRC front row and he's an experienced player now. Roach on the other hand is still only 3-4 seasons into a career as hooker not dis-similar to Andrew Ready and I think can be just as good. Time will tell. They also have Folau Faingaa. So plenty of depth though admittedly none at TPN's level just yet. Paenga-Amosa might be the best bet but don't know where he stands contract wise.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Not currently massively enthused by Roach or the return of Fitzpatrick. Hope Latu can stay injury free and keen to see the next gen come through.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree WB. Has been one of my favourite Tahs from his earliest seasons - so massive thankyou to him. Best of luck at the Force Taf - and glad you are staying in Aussie rugby!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
You're not a Tahs fan PR? I am shocked
Bakkies
Guest
or learning how to tackle properly which he refused to do
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Good bloke and I wish him well in Perth WA. Please keep the Honey Badger out of mischief if you see him. lol. He is from Port Macquarie NSW and his dad played for the PM Pirates RFC. I have meet Tafufu a few times in Newcastle NSW and Tamworth NSW.
cookie
Roar Guru
Great news for australian rugby. Great player and clubman...
cuw
Guest
can someone tell me , why is it that all Super rugger teams have not announced their squads?? isn’t there a deadline applicable for all ?? in football there is the summer deadline and then again the January window in Europe. NZ teams have been finalized ; am yet to see the other countries' teams
cuw
Guest
unlucky to be behind a starter and a skipper , something many players in NZ would identify with. and for a guy coached by cheika, he is pretty mild and well behaved :)
PapanuiPirate
Roar Pro
I'll agree with the other posters here that there is a lot of upside keeping TPN in the country and he could do wonders for the culture at the Force. What I can't agree with is that he is still playing. Fantastic servant that he is, Tatafu has taken far too many knocks to the head and the speed with which he drops when his bell gets wrung is just frightening. He needs to be encouraged off the field and into a community role where he could do so much good connecting with some of the more disenfranchised parts of the fractured rugby landscape.
Daveski
Guest
Win win I think. Force build depth in a key position ( TPN, Scoble, Tessman ) and Tahs can concentrate on choosing between Latu, Roach and maybe Fitzpatrick or Paenga-Amosa. Good on TPN. He'll be great for Force culture.
John R
Roar Guru
Couple of up and coming Wallabies in there now as well, mixed with some experienced ones.. Hopefully Jono Lance can get through the season uninjured, and they should be much improved!
jameswm
Roar Guru
Wow. Massive, massive signing for the Force. Taf is a quality human. You don't read stories about him misbehaving. Great with kids and fans, and gives his all on the field, a huge weapon in attack and defence and - as is often overlooked - a brutal scrummager. As a Tah fan I will miss you Taf, but I don't begrudge you doing something different. You have given so much to us. Looks like Latu is becoming TPN mark II anyway, so we have a ready replacement.
Adam
Guest
They're certainly acquiring some handy players for next season
John R
Roar Guru
Gutted he's leaving the Tahs. But if it had to be any other Aussie team, I'm glad it's with the Force, he should have a good influence there. I've got a wee sense of optimism for the 2017 Force, fingers crossed!
bigbaz
Roar Guru
yep agree