Ex-All Black admits drink-drive charge

Ex All Black Keith Robinson arrives at Morrinsville District Court to appear on DUI and driving with suspended licence charges. Photo / Christine Cornege

Former All Black Keith Robinson has pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge and one of driving with a suspended licence.

The 36-year-old farmer, who played 12 tests for the All Blacks, appeared before the Morrinsville District Court this morning.

He was caught driving with excessive blood alcohol on SH26 on May 12 after police officers saw his vehicle cross the centre line.

He returned a reading of 115 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood when stopped by police.

The court heard how Robinson, who had piglets on the back of his Ford ute and had been to a hunting meeting in Te Aroha, told police: "I know I'm over the limit, I'm only 100 metres from home".

Robinson was also before the Morrinsville District Court to face a charge of driving with a suspended licence on May 27 after being stopped on Kurangahui Road.

He has been convicted at least twice for that offence previously.

He entered guilty pleas to both charges and will reappear for sentencing on August 6.
Robinson last year admitted to a charge of injuring with intent to injure for an attack on a 50-year-old man outside the Palace Hotel in Te Aroha during a pub crawl in December.

He was sentenced in January to 300 hours' community work and nine months' supervision and ordered to undertake an anger management course.

The former lock played his last match for the All Blacks 2007 in their shock Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.

He retired from all rugby shortly after, his promising career curtailed by a knee injury when he was 30.