WATCH: Wallaby sent off for swearing at Wayne Barnes
Wallaby hooker Tolu Latu was sent off for swearing at Wayne Barnes this afternoon in Paris in the match against Connacht.
It was his second yellow card and he thus shown a red card by the brave English referee.
Irish commentator Ryle Nugent then says: “Latu is in all sorts of trouble, all sorts of trouble. Good night, good luck and goodbye.
“Whatever he said to Wayne Barnes, it was enough to warrant a yellow card. It’s his second one having gone for foul play, and that is the end of that. ”
Wayne can be heard saying that Latu “looked straight at me and shouted, ‘f**king hell!’
“He then looked at me and said, ‘I got the f***ing ball!”” Barnes told Stade Francais captain Tala Gray.
Wayne Barnes explaining his actions against Tolu Latu.
“He’s said f*cking hell”. “He’s then looked at me and said, I got the f*cking ball.”
⚠️ #SFPvCON#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/sZ6OzMlh1Z
— Darren Carlson (@SaffasRugby) January 23, 2022
Latu is a bit of bad boy, having been done previously for drink driving.
Latu was sentenced in court last Friday, after pleading guilty to mid-range drink driving and driving whilst suspended. He was dealt a three-month driving suspension for each offence, and fined a total of $1,300 for both offences. He was also ordered to pay court costs and have a interlock device fitted to his car.
At the conclusion of the court proceedings, the Rugby Australia Integrity Unit found has determined that Latu had committed a mid-level breach of the Professional Player Code of Conduct and has issued a sanction that includes a four (4) match suspension and a fine of $5,000.
The four-match suspension will be deemed served after Latu misses his club side Sydney University’s Shute Shield clash with Eastwood this weekend, having previously missed three Super Rugby matches owing to a two-match stand down imposed by the Waratahs, and being required to attend at court for sentencing on the date of the team’s final match against the Highlanders on June 14. The financial penalty took into account that Latu has already accumulated out-of-pocket expenses totaling approximately $7,000 as a result of the court proceedings. Latu will also be required to participate in any counselling and/or alcohol education programs as deemed necessary by Rugby AU and/or the Waratahs for a period of 12 months.
Other factors were considered in arriving at the sanction, including Latu’s personal circumstances leading up to the event as well as his failure to disclose the incident to his employers before it became public via the media. It was also acknowledged that Latu took responsibility for his conduct and made a public statement, accepting responsibility and appreciating the seriousness of the situation and the impact on his team and the sport, and that he had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity to the two criminal offences.
Latu has accepted the Rugby Australia Integrity Unit’s finding and sanction.
