Sinali Latu

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]

Sinali Latu

Born	Sinali-Tui Latu (1965-08-22) August 22, 1965 (age 60) Ha'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 Japan 32 (18) 1984 Tonga 2 (0) National sevens team Years Team Comps 1991-1993 Japan 7s 1993 5 Coaching career Years Team 2003- Daito Bunka University

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]