Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has snubbed interest from all four Australian Super Rugby sides to sign a deal with English giants Leicester.
The 32-year-old joined the Western Force last year, ending a 10-year association with the NSW Waratahs.
But following the Force’s Super Rugby axing was he was forced to look elsewhere to continue his career.
Polota-Nau will still be eligible for international selection having won nearly 80 caps for Australia and remains Michael Cheika’s first-choice hooker ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
However, Rugby Australia and the Australian franchises were taken aback by Polota-Nau’s claims last week that he was being forced out to look overseas because a lack of domestic interest.
It is understood offers were tabled by the Waratahs, Brumbies, Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels who are angered at being accused of passing on him.
The 78-capped rake played in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and made his Wallabies debut as a 20-year-old in 2005 before appearing in Super Rugby. He will move to the UK next month.
Polota-Nau will link up with former Wallabies teammate Matt Toomua at Welford Road where he will be coached by former interim Reds mentor Matt O’Connor.
“I’m really looking forward to experiencing what northern hemisphere rugby is about,” he said in a statement released by Leicester.
“To be privileged to do it with one of the most prestigious clubs of the English Premiership, Leicester Tigers – I believe that not only can I further my game individually, but they have the capacity to add plenty more trophies to their illustrious cabinet and history.”
Polota-Nau will line up in the front row for the Wallabies on Saturday against Wales in Cardiff and O’Connor believes the signing is a huge coup for his club.
“Taf is a fierce player with a huge amount of experience in Super Rugby and at Test level,” he said.
“We think he will add a lot to a very competitive group of quality front-rowers here, working with other international players and we look forward to his arrival.”
Polota-Nau’s former Force teammates Adam Coleman and Ben McCalmon are set to announce where they will be playing next season after the conclusion of the spring tour later this month.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Stiffed him? He announced he was leaving. They filled their roster. His contract fell through. They had a full roster...
Bakkies
Guest
Exactly CS. It's all publicly available ASIC and the ABN is tied to tax records. As for de Clyne throwing Vaux under the bus Hansard have already taken care of that one. The Rebels paying themselves more in consultancy fees than what went to the players has been identified and probed by the Committee.
Bakkies
Guest
Particularly where the Melbourne Rebels revenue comes from.
Bakkies
Guest
You can throw around that word all you want, the MRRU and VRU books which have been opened publicly suggest you are just hoping for the best.
concerned supporter
Guest
TWAS, "Stick to stacking shelves for a living." Great wit & humour TWAS,maybe you should audition as a stand up, it may be your vocation in life.
ScottD
Guest
They would need to find about $5m each as the base shortfall currently funded by ARU plus any "extra" payments that they are being provided with outside that.
ScottD
Guest
Rubbish TWAS The state unions don't go broke and neither do the SR teams. They are all independent legal entities to the ARU Certainly they may have to source their own funding but that is it. In fact they could go to WARU which could facilitate funding thru their new Patron and then be vassals to WA. Now that would be an interesting development ?
ScottD
Guest
It's not a firm offer unless it is signed. Only a goose would consider an unsigned contract firm and binding.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Both of you are clueless. Stick to stacking shelves for a living.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Who cares if they are separate. Look at where the revenue comes from you simpleton.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Everything you say about the MRRU and VRU is pure speculation. They could be flat broke. They could have tens of millions. Either way you have no idea and your comment is pure slander.
Bakkies
Guest
Spot on. Not sure if it was used as evidence. 19 million is a great effort for what was the sale of a bar.
Bakkies
Guest
Exactly Tonkar it was like a post you would expect from the John Cain fan club.
Bakkies
Guest
'1. They never revised financial justification information from the Force and RWA, even though they obviously did. They also tried to sabotage the “Own the Force” fund raising as it would have given the Force more financial clout.' Surely that needs to be look at as restraint of trade?
Bakkies
Guest
Makes you wonder doesn't it ex FF. If he was up in front of the beak TWAS will defend him to the tilt.
Dave_S
Guest
Are the state unions etc financially self sufficient to the extent they can fund their 1/4 of the cost of running SR? I don’t actually know but I’d be surprised if they were. Which means another entity has to arrive, with funds. Can’t say I’d be a keen investor. Sounds like some want to bomb the village to save it.
Bakkies
Guest
'It wouldn’t be out of character would it?' That would be in character. Speaking of that parasite I see he showed his face at the NRC Final. The Vikings should have lost the semi so the Spirit players could tell him to bugger off at the Final.
Dave_S
Guest
I’m not assuming (or presuming) anything, that’s the point. Others seem quite keen to, however. I’m not surprised it hasn’t been covered on Roar, it’s premature.
Gigs20
Guest
Clyne said in his testimony that I'd had been, I was prepared to take that at face value, but you have now given me reason to suspect he was lying about that as well. It wouldn't be out of character would it?
Chris
Guest
Verbal contracts in the media that weren’t refuted. Rock solid those are.