Sinali Latu

Sinali Latu

Birth name	Sinali-Tui Latu
Date of birth	(1965-08-22) August 22, 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth	Ha'apai
Notable relative(s)	Penieli Latu (brother) Kruger Latu (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1985-1995 Sanyo () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1987-1995 Japan 32 (18) 1984 Tonga 2 (0) National sevens team Years Team Comps 1991-1993 Japan 7s 1993 5 Coaching career Years Team 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]

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]

References

1. 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. 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.

External links

• Sinali Latu at ESPNscrum