Leicester Tigers sign Tatafu Polota-Nau [1]
Saturday, November 11, 2017 - 19:21
Top English rugby club Leicester Tigers, have signed Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau on a 2½ year contract, to begin in December this year 2017. The 32-year-old Australian born Tongan last month helped the Wallabies defeat the All Blacks 23 – 18. Polota-Nau has been named in the starting line-up for the Wallabies this Saturday against Wales, in Cardiff.
The Leicester Tigers announced the signing yesterday via a media release in which Polota-Nau expressed his high regard for the Leicester Tigers, considered to be one of the best rugby clubs in England.
Polota-Nau stated, “I'm really looking forward to experiencing what northern hemisphere rugby is about. 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 added, “I do hope that I can contribute to what I think is a very good start to their season and campaign – It will be interesting playing against some of the squad players in the November internationals but I’m very keen to switch thinking caps and get a taste of the challenges ahead.”
Leicester Tigers head coach Matt O’Connor expressed his excitement with the signing and commended Polota-Nau for his extensive experience, which boasts 78 Test caps for Australia including his first cap when he was only 20-years-old.
Matt O’Connor stated, “Taf is a fierce player with a huge amount of experience in Super Rugby and at Test level. He started in Australia’s recent Bledisloe Cup win over the All Blacks and was a key member of the Waratahs team that won Super Rugby in 2014.”
O’Connor added, “Now he is keen to experience rugby in the northern hemisphere and we’re delighted that he has chosen to come to Tigers."
“We think he will add a lot to a very competitive group of quality front-rowers here, working with other international players including Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Ellis Genge and Logo Mulipola, and we look forward to his arrival next month."