Tatafu Polota-Nau
Hooker
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Profile
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Height:
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181cm
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Weight:
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113kg
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Date Of Birth:
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26/07/1985
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Place of Birth:
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Sydney NSW
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Parramatta
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Stats
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Provincial Rugby Caps:
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90
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Provincial Rugby Points:
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55 (11t)
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Provincial Rugby Debut:
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2005 v Auckland
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Super Rugby Caps:
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89
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Super Rugby Points:
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55 (11t)
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2006 v Reds
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Test Rugby Caps:
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32
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Test Rugby Points:
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10 (2t)
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Test Rugby Debut:
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2005 v England
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Devastating with ball-in-hand and a demon with his defence, Polota-Nau experienced his best two Super Rugby seasons, winning the Matthew Burke Cup in 2010 and the HSBC Waratahs' best forward in 2011.
The hooker has missed just eight matches in his six seasons of Super Rugby and in 2009 became the youngest player in the history of NSW Rugby to represent the state on 50 occasions.
In 2012, Polota-Nau became the most capped hooker in NSW Super Rugby history, surpassing Adam Freier in the round 5 clash with the Sharks.
One of the most popular players in NSW and Australian Rugby, Polota-Nau has worked extremely hard to strengthen his embattled Parramatta Rugby Club, helping save them from the bunk of extinction with his efforts as a Board Director.
The 26-year-old was raised in Sydney but boasts a strong Tongan heritage and is fluent in the Tongan language. He also speaks Japanese, learning that off an uncle who played professionally in Japan.
A late comer to rugby, after concentrating on his studies at school in Sydney’s west, Polota-Nau’s potential quickly became apparent – so much so that he was co-captaining the Australian Schools side within two years of taking up the game.
Updated 14/5/2012