Sinali Latu
Japan & Tonga international rugby union player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
August 22, 1965
Kruger Latu (son)
| Born | Sinali-Tui Latu August 22, 1965 Ha'apai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notable relative(s) | Penieli Latu (brother) Kruger Latu (son) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
