SYDNEY (AP) Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is set to make his return to test rugby in Australia's five-match tour of Europe in November, having been named among a 32-man squad on Friday.
Polota-Nau, a 44-test veteran who is coming off a hamstring injury, is one of three hookers in coachEwen McKenzie's squad along with Stephen Moore and Saia Faingaa.
The Australian Rugby Union will also use the squad in preparing for the third Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand on Oct. 19.
Australia plays England at Twickenham on Nov. 2, Italy in Turin on Nov. 9, Ireland in Dublin on Nov. 16, Scotland at Murrayfield on Nov. 23 and will end the tour on Nov. 30 at Cardiff against Wales.
"We recognize we are going over to play some very experienced and talented teams in the U.K. following our test against the All Blacks," McKenzie said. "As a result, we've selected a group that contains a strong mix of veterans but also 10 players, almost a third of the squad, who have only made their test debuts this season."
The players will assemble in Sydney on Sunday before a reduced playing group of 24 is selected to travel to New Zealand next Wednesday. The entire 32-man squad will then re-assemble in Sydney the following week before flying to Britain.
Players not considered due to injuries were Kurtley Beale, Anthony Fainga'a, Kyle Goodwin, Scott Higginbotham, Hugh McMeniman, Jesse Mogg and Hugh Pyle.
Australia squad: Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan, James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas, James Horwill (captain), Rob Simmons, Sitaleki Timani, Dave Dennis, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Ben Mowen, Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mike Harris, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali'ifano, Nick Cummins, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Joe Tomane, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley.
