POLOTA Nau the Hooker for the Australian Wallabies was in Tonga to celebrate the New Year with relatives and friends.

Polota said he last visited Tonga in 2002, as a member of an Australian school boys rugby team. Since then he has been concentrating on his studies of Computer Technology and rugby, he said, "for me the two always go together."

He spent the last few days of 2010 at Vava'u with family and relatives and then returned to Nuku'alofa on Thursday, 30 December to celebrate the New Year.

The Australian Wallabies' hooker was welcomed at a reception hosted by the out-going Prime Minister, Lord Feleti Sevele on Saturday evening, January 1.

The new Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano also attended the reception. In a speech herecognised Polota as an inspiration for young Tongan rugby players to strive to get to the top of their rugby career.

Polota said he was thankful for and honoured withr the reception and he said that he is always very proud of his Tongan heritage.