International hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is returning to Australia to help fill the short term injury cover for his former NSW Waratahs team.
Polota-Nau has arrived in Australia to train with the Waratahs squad, on loan from his current club the Leicester Tigers. Currently based in England, Polota-Nau answered NSW Waratahs Head Coach Daryl Gibson’s request to once again play in the sky blue jersey which will also give him the chance to be run on ready for Leicester.
Having notched up 142 Super Rugby games with the NSW Waratahs and as a starting hooker for the Wallabies, Polota-Nau will be back on Australian soil to provide a short term injury cover for the Tahs, with Sham Vui currently sidelined.
“We are pleased to welcome home internationally renowned hooker and NSW Waratahs’ own Tatafu Polota-Nau, to help fill a short term need with our squad,” said Gibson.
“With some of the squad unavailable for selection due to injury we needed to look at who could immediately slot into the Super Rugby level competition and was a good fit with our squad… Tatafu fits the bill.
“From a timing perspective it worked well with the Leicester Tigers calendar and we are currently finalising the paperwork.
“It’s a win-win for us and Tatafu, who’ll have the opportunity to get game time in front of the Australian coaches and selectors during this World Cup year.
“Guys in our extended squad such as JP Sauni and Andrew Tuala are also training the house down and eager to get their first Super Rugby cap. It was great to see them get game time minutes with the Emerging Waratahs on Friday afternoon when they played Auckland A…. it all helps them on their way to being ready to step up into Super Rugby,” he said.
Tatafu has touched down in Australia and will head into training with the NSW Waratahs squad as he looks to put himself available for selection.