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Rugby Australia heap further punishment on Tolu Latu following drink-driving conviction

By Online Editors
Tolu Latu has been hit with a breach notice by Rugby Australia for drink driving and driving while suspended (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

Wallabies and Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has been served with a Rugby Australia breach notice on Wednesday for his drink-driving and driving while suspended offences on May 16.

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Latu was sentenced in court last Friday, after pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving and driving while suspended.

He was dealt a three-month driving suspension for each offence, and fined a total of $1,300 for both offences. He was also ordered to pay court costs and have an interlock device fitted to his car.

At the conclusion of the court proceedings, the Rugby Australia Integrity Unit found determined that Latu had committed a mid-level breach of the professional player code of conduct and has issued a sanction that includes a four-match suspension and a fine of $5,000.

The four-match suspension will be deemed served after Latu misses his club side Sydney University’s Shute Shield clash with Eastwood this weekend, having previously missed three Super Rugby matches owing to a two-match stand down imposed by the Waratahs, and being required to attend at court for sentencing on the date of the team’s final match against the Highlanders on June 14.

The financial penalty took into account that Latu has already accumulated out-of-pocket expenses totalling approximately $7,000 as a result of the court proceedings.

Latu will also be required to participate in any counselling and/or alcohol education programs as deemed necessary by Rugby AU and/or the Waratahs for a period of 12 months.

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Other factors were considered in arriving at the sanction, including Latu’s personal circumstances leading up to the event as well as his failure to disclose the incident to his employers before it became public via the media.

It was also acknowledged that Latu took responsibility for his conduct and made a public statement, accepting responsibility and appreciating the seriousness of the situation and the impact on his team and the sport, and that he had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity to the two criminal offences.

Latu has accepted the Rugby Australia Integrity Unit’s finding and sanction.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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