- Tevita Leo-Latu
Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Tevita Latu
fullname = Tevita Latu
nickname = Tee/Vita
caption =
country =
position = Hooker
currentclub = leagueicon|Wakefield|size=16Wakefield Wildcats
clubnumber = 20
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|7|3
placeofbirth = Auckland
countryofbirth =New Zealand
height = 5 ft 9 in (1.73 m)
weight = 13 st 11 lbs (88 kg)
club1 = leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|size=16 NZ Warriors
year1start = 2003
year1end = 2005
appearances1 = 22
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 = 12
club2 = leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16 Cronulla
year2start = 2006
year2end =
appearances2 = 10
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 = 4
club3 = leagueicon|Wakefield|size=16 Wakefield
year3start = 2006
year3end = present
appearances3 = 23
tries3 =
goals3 =
fieldgoals3 =
points3 = 8
teamA = Flagicon|New Zealand New Zealand
yearAstart = 2004
yearAend =
appearancesA = 1
triesA =
goalsA =
fieldgoalsA =
pointsA = 0
updated =
source =
new = yesTevita Leo-Latu (born
July 3 ,1981 inAuckland, New Zealand ) is aNew Zealand rugby league player for theWakefield Trinity Wildcats in theSuper League (Europe) competition, Latu previously played for theNew Zealand Warriors andCronulla-Sutherland Sharks in theNational Rugby League . His usual position is at hooker though he can also play in the halves.Childhood and early career
Latu began playing rugby league at a young age in Auckland for his local club side Richmond, though he did not start to seriously contemplate a professional career in league until his late teens when he started playing for the Brothers club in the New Zealand Bartercard Cup competition. It was there where his skills were noticed by the
New Zealand Warriors whom immediately signed him up to their playing roster for the beginning of the 2003 season.New Zealand Warriors
Latu made his debut for the New Zealand side coming off the bench during round twelve of the 2003 season against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, a match in which Tevita helped his club to a good victory of 23 to 6.
He spent the next two seasons at the club falling both in and out of favour with the team's selectors seeing him make only a further thirteen appearances from 2003-2004 for the club after his debut.
After some loss of form and falling out of favour with the Warriors coaching staff during the 2005 season where he was only given a mere eight appearances, the club decided to release Latu at the completion of the NRL season.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tevita signed for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at the beginning of the 2006 season, immediately becoming a regular selection in the Sharks seventeen. He was often used as an interchange hooker often replacing
Kevin Kingston on the field for the Sharks adding a much needed attacking spark. Latu played a total of ten games for the club before being involved in an off field assault and subsequently having his contract terminated by the club.Controversies
1. On Tuesday,
May 23 ,2006 , it was reported that Latu had been involved in an altercation in the early hours of the morning before with a 19-year-old woman inCronulla .As further details emerged, it was revealed that Latu and the alleged victim Brooke Penintonref|ref-rec1 had both been present at Cronulla's Kingsway BP service station at 3.am. the previous Sunday. Allegedly the two individuals had been in discussion before an altercation arose ending with Latu assaulting Peninton, punching her in the face, resulting in a broken nose and other minor injuriesref|ref-rec2.
Latu was arrested the following day at 11.30 p.m. and charged by police with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had been granted police bail to face Sutherland Local Court on
June 15 .ref|ref-rec3Latu had his contract with the Cronulla Sharks terminated as a result of the incident. On Wednesday,
May 24 "TheSydney Morning Herald " announced that the NRL had de-registered Latu as a player, and stated that it would refuse to register him if he signed with another club. Other sporting codes were urged to follow the NRL's lead ref|ref-rec4.He was sentenced to eight months' periodic detention for his actions but was later reduced to community service after an appeal on
July 10 , 2006.After serving his time, Latu was signed by Super League club
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats , where he currently plays.2. On Tuesday, 7 August 2007, Tevita Leo-Latu received a six-match ban for making a racist remark toward Warrington's
Kevin Penny on June 17 earlier that year.New Zealand
After some impressive performances for his club during the 2004 season Latu was called up to the New Zealand international side for the middle of the year one off test match against the Australians. Latu started on the bench eventually coming on to make his international debut.
Tonga
He has been named in the Tonga training squad for the
2008 Rugby League World Cup .cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3935853,00.html|title=Tug-of-war over Mason|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-08-06]
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