Northland rugby representative Tony Koonwaiyou will have to catch a lift to training this week after being convicted of drink-driving.
The 24-year-old utility back pleaded guilty when he appeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday to one charge of driving with excess breath-alcohol and was fined and disqualified from driving.
Judge Roy
Wade said police stopped Koonwaiyou in Rathbone St, Whangarei, about 5am on September 9.
He was breath-tested and recorded a level of 573 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and above is 400mcg per litre of breath. The incident followed Northland's home game with Auckland.
Judge Wade acknowledged Koonwaiyou had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and that his level was not overly high. He fined Koonwaiyou $425, ordered him to pay $130 court costs and disqualified him from driving for six months.
Koonwaiyou declined to comment outside court, but Northland Rugby Union chief executive Rob Malone said Koonwaiyou regretted the incident. He said Koonwaiyou, who has played at winger and centre this season, had been disciplined for his actions, which included a requirement that he undergo a drug and alcohol assessment.
"We have spoken with Tony and he has been very honest and has acknowledged that he has let himself, his teammates, coaches and the Northland rugby fraternity down," Mr Malone said. "We would like to think this is an isolated incident as Tony has been very good in terms of his mentoring of our young players. This unfortunate incident illustrates to the players the importance of self-restraint and their obligations to the team and the union."
