Sinali Latu

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Sinali Latu
Birth nameSinali-Tui Latu
Date of birth (1965-08-22) August 22, 1965 (age 58)
Place of birthHa'apai
Notable relative(s) Penieli Latu (brother)
Kruger Latu (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1985-1995 Sanyo ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1987-1995
1984		Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 		32
2		 (18)
(0)
National sevens team(s)
YearsTeamComps
1991-1993 Japan 7s 1993
Coaching career
YearsTeam
2003- Daito Bunka University

Sinali Latu (born in Tonga in 1965) is a retired Tongan-Japanese rugby union player. [1] He played in Japan for Sanyo and also played for the Japan national rugby union team. [1] Now he coaches the Daito Bunka University rugby team. Since he acquired the Japanese citizenship, he changed his full name to William Sinali Latu (ラトゥ ウィリアム志南利, Ratu Uiriamu Shinari). [2] He is the founder of the non-profit organisation Japan-Tonga Friendship Association. [3] He was nicknamed "Bill" (ビル) during his playing career in Japan. [4]

Contents

Viliami Sinali Latu played for Tonga's national side while attending Tonga College at the age of 19. He moved to study and play in Japan with a Tonga College school mate, Uatesoni Namoa. Latu played for Japan at three World Cups, in 1987, 1991 and in 1995. [5]

Family

Latu's younger brother, Tevita Latu, played sevens for Tonga while studying in Tonga College in 2000 before moving to New Zealand. [6] The youngest of the Latu brothers, Kilifi, has captained the Tongan sevens team [7] [8] and played rugby in New Zealand, together with his older brothers Penieli and Langakali, and in the United States. [9] Penieli played for Tonga in the 1995 World Cup. The Latu brothers all studied at Tonga College. They all played for South Canterbury's Celtic Rugby Club. [6]

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Sione Latu is a former Tongan-born Japanese rugby player. He played as a number 8. He also played for Tonga and Japan XV. He is not related with fellow Japan national rugby union player Sinali Latu.

Latu may be,

Sione Latu Talakai is a Tongan rugby union player who generally plays as a prop represents Tonga internationally and plays for Australian Shute Shield club Eastwood. He was included in the Tongan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup which is held in Japan for the first time and also marks his first World Cup appearance. He helped captain the Wests Bulldogs to a premiership in 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 ISBN   1-86200-013-1), p70
  2. ↑ "元日本代表ラトゥさんがNPO法人設立。「トンガ出身選手のサポートを」 | ラグビーリパブリック" (in Japanese). 12 February 2022.
  3. ↑ NEWS, KYODO. "Former Japan rugby international Latu aids Tonga disaster recovery". Kyodo News+.
  4. ↑ "【ニュースのフリマ】シナリ・ラトゥ氏の涙 – 東京スポーツ新聞社". 東スポＷeb (in Japanese).
  5. ↑ Hiroshi Harada (23 July 2013). "Tongan rugby retiree forged unique bonds" . Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 The Timaru Herald (7 September 2008). "Brothers enter record books" . Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "TONGA SEVENS TEAM FOR WELLINGTON SEVENS 2013". rugbyredefined.com. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Canes Billy Guyton returns to help Waimate". Rugby Eye. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Former Sac Lion on field for Tonga". Guest Columnist. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2015.


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