Arrived in 2019 at the Stade Français, Tolu Latu will put an end to his adventure in Paris at the end of the season.
The departure of the Australian international, in the pipes for a few weeks, was confirmed by the player on social networks.
“
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I am leaving the Stade Français club.
It's time for me to come home and start the next career chapter.
Thank you to Stade Français for receiving me and thank you to the supporters for supporting me!
THANK YOU
,” the hooker simply wrote on his Instagram account.
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Tolu Latu (11 selections since 2016 with Australia) will therefore no longer wear the pink jersey with the flashes of the Stade Français Paris.
Expelled from the Champions Cup in the round of 16 second leg against Racing 92, and found guilty of an "
intentional act of foul play
", the repeat hooker was sanctioned with an eleven-week suspension.
Which had ended his season.
Six yellow and two red cards this season
His departure is not really a surprise.
If his qualities as a player, powerful and solid, are not in doubt, his chronic indiscipline ended up exasperating the Parisian leaders.
This season, he had collected six yellow and two red cards.
Leading to an apology from Gonzalo Quesada after his ultimate blunder.
“What about this red card?
That it is a completely shared fault,
the Parisian manager was sorry.
And as I told the players, I apologized.
There was a long debate - I'm not going to say more - but Tolu did what he did in all his last matches.
It's a shared fault: we are the ones who put him on the pitch and he has done what he has done in all these last matches, so there are no surprises.
(his fault),
you say to yourself "no, he's not going to do it"..."
Read alsoChampions Cup: what the Parisian Latu really said to the referee to be expelled (video)
The divorce is therefore well and truly consummated.
As suggested by the strong criticism of the president-owner of the SFP Hans-Peter Wild during an interview recently granted to L'Équipe.
He had not hesitated to point out the behavior of the player, placed in police custody for drunk driving a year ago.
“
Latu is a problem.
Latu mostly has an extra-sports problem with alcohol.
You have to recognize it, otherwise you will never solve the problem.
He added that the Australian had to “
heal himself and reorganize his life
”.
“
As with any addiction, Latu is like an elephant in your living room.
To solve the problem, you have to take out the elephant and not take out the broken objects.
»
Australian provinces are not scrambling to recruit him
Tolu Latu will seek treatment far from Paris.
Probably in Australia where he will try to find a base.
What is not won in advance.
While there have been rumors of a return to the Waratahs, it ultimately looks like the Super Rugby franchises are being rather wary of the 29-year-old, who had previously been arrested for drink-driving in Australia.
His propensity to collect cards and his suspension of 11 weeks to serve do not plead in his favor, if we are to believe the Australian media.
Who claim that none of the franchises would have made him any offers.
In Paris, Latu will have played 54 matches in two and a half seasons.
For a final appearance on April 9.