TATAFU Polota-Nau appears likely to undergo surgery on his arm and miss the Spring Tour but the news could have a shiny silver lining, with the Wallaby hooker now considering staying in Australia on a long-term deal.

Polota-Nau is not on tour with the Wallabies in South Africa this week after coach Michael Cheika elected to rest the no. 2 due to ongoing pain in his injured right forearm, which he fractured in March.

The arm didn’t heal properly and Polota-Nau has effectively played in great discomfort with a broken arm for four months, said Cheika.

Polota-Nau is still consulting with specialists about whether he needs further surgery on his arm but it appears to be the likely path for the 67-Test hooker.

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Tatafu Polota-Nau on the charge against Argentina. Source: Getty Images

Being out of action until as late as January, however, is set to put Polota-Nau’s move to English club Bristol in jeopardy. To arrive in the new year would be near the halfway point of the 2016-17 Premiership season.

It is understood Polota-Nau is back in talks with the ARU about a new contract and could shelve his plans to play overseas.

The possibility of Polota-Nau, 31, emulating David Pocock and having a six-month sabbatical away from the game to study and travel is also a consideration.

The move to Bristol could still happen but a sabbatical period may be able to scratch the same itch for Polota-Nau, who was keen for a change after ten seasons of professional rugby.

The ARU would jump at another opportunity to lock down Polota-Nau, judging by Cheika’s comments last week.

The coach was already trying to convince Polota-Nau to return from the UK after just one season and be back on duty for Test duties in August.

“I will be doing everything I can, like I have with a lot of the guys overseas, to try and get him repatriated as soon as is possible,” Cheika said last week.

Polota-Nau played with a broken arm for months. Source: Getty Images

“Polota-Nau is a player who in the last few digs, what he is adding in games is really vital for us.”

The bullocking hooker will turn 34 just before the 2019 World Cup begins in Tokyo, but with captain Stephen Moore to be 36 and depth at hooker not great, Polota-Nau would likely still be a huge asset for Cheika.

A sabbatical stretch sitting out the Super Rugby season could avoid the awkward question of where Polota-Nau would play in 2017 if he stayed.

TPN announced his departure from the Waratahs recently by joining a farewell to leaving players presentation at the Tahs’ awards night.

The Waratahs have signed Damian Fitzpatrick back from France, and already have on their books two other hookers in Hugh Roach and Tolu Latu. The latter is Polota-Nau’s replacement on the current Wallaby tour.