Nili Latu

Nili Latu

Birth name	'Otenili Latu Langilangi
Date of birth	(1982-02-19) February 19, 1982
Place of birth	Afa, Tonga
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	101 kg (15 st 13 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Doug Howlett (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–15 2015– NEC Green Rockets Newcastle Falcons 63 11 (165) (15) Correct as of 24 August 2015 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–07 Bay of Plenty 25 (15) Correct as of 24 August 2015 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2005–06 2007 Chiefs Hurricanes 2 3 (5) (0) Correct as of 24 August 2015 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2006− 2006–08 Tonga Pacific Islanders 43 6 (23) (0) Correct as of 9 October 2015

Nili Latu, playing name of Otenili Langilangi (born 19 February 1982 in Afa) is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the NEC Green Rockets in the Japan Top League. He has also captained the Tonga national rugby side at international level, and has played for the Pacific Islanders on their tour to Great Britain and Ireland. His usual position is flanker. Latu will sign with Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership for the 2015/2016 Season.

Career

Latu started his rugby at Bay of Plenty in the Air New Zealand Cup. He made his debut for the Chiefs in 2005 in a match against the Sharks. He made his debut for Tonga on June 4, 2006 against Japan. He then played against Fiji, and in his third Test, skippered Tonga against the Junior All Blacks, and then against the Cook Islands. He was used as a replacement in the match against Samoa, and then captained the side against the second Test against the Cook Islands.

In late 2006 Latu was drafted into the Hurricanes squad as cover for All Black absentees Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo for the 2007 season. He played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup for Tonga where he was instrumental for their National Team. He also made a name for himself with his big tackles. In 2008 he was included in a list of the 50 best rugby players in the world by The Independent newspaper.