Waratahs sign Australia international Tatafu Polota-Nau on loan

Waratahs have confirmed the signing of Australia international Tatafu Polota-Nau on loan from Gallagher Premiership club Leicester Tigers.

Polota-Nau already has the experience of playing for Waratahs between 2006 and 2016 during which he played 142 Super Rugby games before moving to the Welford Road in 2017.

His service has been acquired by Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson as a cover for Sham Vui, who is sidelined with an injury.

“We are pleased to welcome home internationally renowned hooker and NSW Waratahs’ own Tatafu Polota-Nau, to help fill a short-term need with our squad,” said Gibson.

“With some of the squad unavailable for selection due to injury we needed to look at who could immediately slot into the Super Rugby level competition and was a good fit with our squad…Tatafu fits the bill.

“From a timing perspective it worked well with the Leicester Tigers calendar and we are currently finalising the paperwork.

“It’s a win-win for us and Tatafu, who’ll have the opportunity to get game time in front of the Australian coaches and selectors during this World Cup year."

The 33-year-old has already joined the training camp of Waratahs and will be hoping to make into the matchday 23 squad as they search their second win of the season.

Polota-Nau has played 89 Tests for Australia since his debut in 2005 and was part of the squad that competed in the recently concluded November series last year.