Sinali Latu
Birth nameSinali-Tui Latu
Date of birth (1965-08-22) August 22, 1965
Place of birthHa'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
1984		  Japan
 Tonga		 32
2		 (18)
(0)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
1991-1993 Japan 7s 1993
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. 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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