Tatafu Polota-Nau

TATAFU POLOTA-NAU’s rare mix of size, speed and skill has long had him touted as a future long term hooking prospect for the Wallabies. Of Tongan heritage, Polota-Nau made his debut on the 2005 Spring Tour, winning his first cap as a replacement against England at Twickenham. He thus joined a select group, in the professional era, who had featured in the Test arena prior to debuting in Super rugby. That came a year later, with Polota-Nau featuring in his 38th Super rugby match when the Waratahs conceded this year’s final to the Crusaders. A hand injury sustained in that match delayed his re-entry into the Wallabies, but he returned for the Tri-Nations and gathered five additional caps, which included a first ever start during Australia’s loss to South Africa at Johannesburg.

He then gained two further caps off the bench on the Spring Tour before starring in the tour-ending win over the Barbarians at Wembley where his bone crunching tackle on Baabaas flanker Jerry Collins was one of the major post-match talking points among players and public alike. Polota-Nau shares a house in Sydney with his Wallabies and Waratahs team-mate, fellow Tongan Wycliff Palu.

2003   Co-captained the Australian Schoolboys team with Brumbies flanker Julian Salvi

2004   Moved to Canberra to join the Brumbies on a Development Contract and represented the Australian Under 19 team at the IRB World Championship in South Africa before being rushed into the Australian Under 21s for their World Championship in Scotland.

2005   After a standout tournament for the Australian Under 21s at the World Championship in Argentina, he was included in the 31-man Wallabies Spring Tour squad where he made a stunning Test debut against England at Twickenham. Capped his break through first season of professional rugby by being awarded the IRB Under 21 World Player of the Year.

2006   Signed a full-time contract with the Waratahs, playing every Super 14 match as understudy to Adam Freier after making his debut against the Reds in Brisbane. After missing out on selection in the Wallabies squad for the Domestic season and Tri Nations, he returned to the fold for the Spring Tour as the youngest member of the 37-man squad. He made his third Test appearance as a replacement against Scotland in Edinburgh.

2007   Played in all but one of the Waratahs Super 14 matches, starting on two occasions at hooker.  Member of Australia A for the Pacific Nations Cup, and the Western Sydney Rams in the Australian Rugby Championships.

2008   Appeared 12 times as the Waratahs reached the Investec Super 14 final, before featuring on five occasions in the Test arena during the Tri-Nations, which included his first ever Wallaby Test start, and on two further occasions on the Spring Tour. Started in the Olympic Centenary match against the Barbarians at Wembley, and was one of Australia’s individual stars during the gritty 18-11 win.