Leicester hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is that rarest of creatures: a professional sportsman prepared to act upon his principles.

When the Western Force were axed by Rugby Australia last September, Polota-Nau was left without a club. This was not an accident. As the Wallabies starting hooker, Polota-Nau could have prepared to pitch up at another Australian Super Rugby franchise. That would have been the smart move, particularly for a 32-year-old who has aspirations of playing at the 2019 World Cup.

Instead Polota-Nau, who starts Friday's crucial match against Newcastle Falcons, told his agent to look overseas. If Rugby Australia turned their back on the Force so Polota-Nau would turn his back on them. “I was quite stubborn,” Polota-Nau told Telegraph Sport. “I wanted to see what the end result of the review was.

“For the majority of guys in Australia this is not just the job but their livelihoods. Families are affected. Fortunately I don’t have a direct family structure, but there guys with young families were just distraught.

"That’s my teammate who you are affecting and here you are wanting to put them in such a terrible state that they do not have a future. So it was a point of principle to the fact you need to show me that you care about these guys; if not then I may as well as pursue other alternatives.”