Witnesses jumped into ‘drunk and asleep’ Wallaby star’s car to stop it rolling through intersection

Terrified witnesses had to jump into a ‘drunk and asleep’ Wallaby star’s car to stop it rolling through an intersection – but he claims he ‘only had five beers’

  • Star hooker, Tolu Latu, was drunk and asleep in his car near Rugby headquarters
  • His car began rolling through a Sydney intersection and witnesses had to stop it 
  • Latu had a blood alcohol level of 0.135 an hour after he fell asleep at the wheel
  • He was convicted on Friday, had his driver’s license disqualified and fined $1300 

Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu was drunk and asleep at the wheel as witnesses dived into his car to stop it rolling through a Sydney intersection.

The 26-year-old on Friday was convicted, fined $1300 and had his licence disqualified for three months after pleading guilty to drink driving and driving while suspended on May 16.

Latu officially recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.135 an hour after he fell asleep while stopped at a red light near Rugby Australia headquarters at Moore Park about 4.30am. 

Witnesses called police but were forced to intervene as the hooker’s Mitsubishi Outlander, still in drive, rolled into the intersection of Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street.

Tolu Latu (pictured) had to be pulled from his car to stop it from rolling through an intersection

The 26-year-old (pictured) on Friday was convicted, fined $1300 and had his licence disqualified for three months after pleading guilty

The 26-year-old (pictured) on Friday was convicted, fined $1300 and had his licence disqualified for three months after pleading guilty 

The 110-kilogram hooker, who also plays for the NSW Waratahs, remained asleep as witnesses stopped the car and took the keys. Police tried but failed to wake him.

Eventually, paramedics roused the 12-Test hooker, who “had extremely slurred speech, was unaware of his surrounding or where he was, smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor and had bloodshot eyes”, the agreed facts state.

He later told police he’d had five schooners of beer at the Milestone Hotel in Leichhardt almost 10 kilometres away.

Two days earlier, a three-month demerit point suspension had begun on Latu’s provisional red P1 licence.

Following magistrate Daniel Convington’s sentence on Friday, Latu will await the verdict of Rugby Australia’s integrity unit, which is considering further punishment under the players’ code of conduct.

Latu was initially stood down for two Waratahs matches and dropped from a Wallabies training camp.

Witnesses called police but were forced to intervene as the hooker's Mitsubishi Outlander, still in drive, rolled into the intersection of Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street in Sydney

Witnesses called police but were forced to intervene as the hooker’s Mitsubishi Outlander, still in drive, rolled into the intersection of Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street in Sydney

NSW Rugby Union said he’d since entered a drink driver education course and agreed to undergo counselling.

“Everyone at NSW Rugby Union is extremely disappointed with Tolu’s actions but it’s pleasing to see he’s taking steps to address this behaviour through education and counselling,” NSWRU chief executive Andrew Hore said in a statement on Friday.

Latu won’t be available for selection with club side Sydney University on Saturday.

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