Earlier this week, stalwart Wallabies front-rower, Sekope Kepu announced that he would be retiring post World Cup. Today another Wallabies front-rower announced his international retirement.
Tatafu Polota-Nau is set to play his last Test for the Wallabies against Samoa on Saturday.
After 15 seasons of International Rugby, Polota-Nau announced he will retire from Test Rugby at the end of the Rugby World Cup.
Polota-Nau did not make the original Wallabies’ 31-man RWC squad but along with a few other unfortunate fringe players, he will be on the standby list case of injury.
If Polota-Nau comes off the bench to replace Jordan Uelese who has the starting jersey on Saturday he will play his 90th Test for the Wallabies against the Samoans at Bankwest on Saturday night.
Polota-Nau is currently playing his club Rugby with English Premiership side, Leicester Tigers but a ‘goodbye’ match at Bankwest couldn’t be closer to home.
“It is (special) because the west has given me the opportunity to take rugby with both hands and go for it,” Polota-Nau said.
“If it wasn’t for Parramatta Two Blues picking up the skill set I possessed back in schoolboys days, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to don the green and gold.
“It’s a privilege really to wear the Wallabies jersey.
“It’s another opportunity to wear the gold jersey, most likely for the last time, and it’s been a hell of a journey and I have been incredibly fortunate to wear the jersey every time.”
As well as winning a Super Rugby title with the Waratahs in 2014, Polota-Nau made his debut for the Wallabies back in 2005 as a 20-year-old in and played in both the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup campaigns.
He missed out on selection for this Championsup with Uelese, Folau Faingaa and Tolu Latu as the chosen three.
“They are great. It’s possibly the best combination you’ll ever get to go to a World Cup,” Polota-Nau said.
“There are various skills each hooker possesses and to be honest I have been fortunate to witness that. Unfortunately, my skill set isn’t as good as the rest of them but to honest, I couldn’t be at a happier place and I have every confidence they will do the job in Japan.”
