Polota-Nau takes Under 21 award
November 28, 2005

Wallabies rookie Tatafu Polota-Nau was been awarded the IRB U21 Player of the Year Award at last night's Awards Ceremony in Paris.

Born in Sydney to Tongan parents, Polota-Nau joined Leroy Houston and Digby Ioane as one of three members of the recent Wallaby Tour to have not played a Super 12 match.

Making his debut against England Polota-Nau has shown real skill and incredible promise with some exciting touches of the football. He is a classic product of the ARU's Elite Player Development Program, which is managed by Ben Whitaker.

"Tatafu was identified at the aged of 15 when he was playing at Granville High School and was a very accomplished flanker and number 8 at schoolboy level," Whitaker said.

"However with the assistance of the Brumbies he was selected for a HPU contract and developed to play at either prop or hooker where he is obviously excelling."

After holding a contract with the ACT Brumbies for the last two years, Polota-Nau has joined the Waratahs for next year's inaugural Super 14 season. He has already made his Waratahs debut, coming on as a replacement for NSW against Auckland in Gosford in July.

The Australian Under 21 hooker for the last two years, Polota-Nau was a standout at the IRB Under 21 World Championship in Argentina, where Australia was narrowly defeated by South Africa 24-20 in the Final.

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