Latham Tawhai

{{Short description|Former New Zealand Māori international rugby league footballer and coach}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Latham Tawhai

|fullname = Latham Dean Henare Tawhai[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/73RjhAniDo0AL9ujc5W4ai9z-HI/appointments Companies House]

|image =

|caption =

|country =

|position = {{Rlp|FE|HB}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|8|23|df=y}}

|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

|height = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|82|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|club1 = Northcote

|year1start = 19??

|year1end =

|appearances1 =

|tries1 =

|goals1 =

|fieldgoals1 =

|points1 =

|club2 = North Harbour

|year2start = 1994

|year2end = 96

|appearances2 = 62

|tries2 = 16

|goals2 = 51

|fieldgoals2 = 2

|points2 = 167

|club3 = Keighley Cougars

|year3start = 1996

|year3end = 97

|appearances3 = 13

|tries3 = 2

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 8

|club4 = Hunslet Hawks

|year4start = 1997

|year4end = 99

|appearances4 = 77

|tries4 = 32

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 11

|points4 = 139

|club5 = Doncaster Dragons

|year5start = 2000

|year5end = 21

|appearances5 = 38

|tries5 = 21

|goals5 = 0

|fieldgoals5 = 3

|points5 = 87

|club6 = Rochdale Hornets

|year6start = 2001

|year6end = 02

|appearances6 = 51

|tries6 = 12

|goals6 = 2

|fieldgoals6 = 1

|points6 = 53

|club7 = {{nowrap|Hull Kingston Rovers}}

|year7start = 2003

|year7end =

|appearances7 = 26

|tries7 = 8

|goals7 = 3

|fieldgoals7 = 4

|points7 = 42

|club8 = Hunslet Hawks

|year8start = 2004

|year8end =

|appearances8 = 24

|tries8 = 8

|goals8 = 5

|fieldgoals8 = 4

|points8 = 46

|club9 = Doncaster Lakers

|year9start = 2005

|year9end =

|appearances9 = 21

|tries9 = 3

|goals9 = 0

|fieldgoals9 = 0

|points9 = 12

|club10 = London Skolars

|year10start = 2006

|year10end =

|appearances10 = 5

|tries10 = 3

|goals10 = 0

|fieldgoals10 = 3

|points10 = 12

|teamA = Auckland

|yearAstart =

|yearAend =

|appearancesA =

|triesA =

|goalsA =

|fieldgoalsA =

|pointsA =

|teamB = New Zealand Māori

|yearBstart =

|yearBend =

|appearancesB =

|triesB =

|goalsB =

|fieldgoalsB =

|pointsB =

|coachteam1 = London Skolars

|coachyear1start = 2005

|coachyear1end = 07

|coachgames1 =

|coachwin%1 =

|coachpremierships1 =

|updated =

|source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/latham-tawhai/summary.html Latham Tawhai] rugbyleagueproject.org

|new = yes

}}

Latham Tawhai (born 23 August 1972) is a rugby league coach and former player from New Zealand. He has also represented his country in softball.

Playing career

A Northcote Tigers junior, Tawhai played in the Auckland Rugby League competition before being selected for Auckland, and making the North Harbour Lion Red Cup side.[http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=373 Northcote and Birkenhead Tigers Rugby League and Sports Club Inc] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720071934/http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=373 |date=2011-07-20}} Auckland Rugby League

After playing for the champion North Harbour Sea Eagles in the Lion Red Cup, Tawhai represented New Zealand at the inaugural Super League World Nines, helping the side to victory before signing for Keighley in 1996. He later went on to play for Hunslet (winning the Tom Bergin Trophy for Man of the Match in the 1999 Grand Final{{cite web|title=LHF Healthplan National League One Grand Final|url=http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?ID=20702|publisher=sportfocus|accessdate=20 December 2014|date=6 October 2006}}), Rochdale Hornets, Doncaster and Hull Kingston Rovers.{{cite web|url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=38186&newstype=n&matchid=&Refid=&storytype=RL|title=Quins Appoint Latham Tawhai as Assistant Coach|publisher=Quins|date=2007-12-03|accessdate=2007-12-03}}

Tawhai then left Hull KR to take up a player-coach role at Hunslet in 2004.[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20305970_ITM Season of Change] Hull Daily Mail, 7 February 2004

Coaching career

Tawhai was part of the RFL's coaching pathway starting with the Leeds Service Area and Rhinos Scholarship Programme. He went on to assist with the Bradford Bulls Foundation before coaching on the RFL's Elite Player Camps.{{fact|date=January 2024}}

In 2005 after guiding local amateur club Drighlington to success in the Pennine Premier League, the Yorkshire Cup Final and winning the Pennine League Coach of the Year, he moved to London where he became the first full-time coach at the London Skolars. In October 2007, after London Skolars best ever season, Latham was named the Co-operative National League Two Coach of the year. He left Skolars at the end of 2007 to become assistant coach at Harlequins RL under Brian McDermott.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/07/12/03/RUGBYL_London_Skolars.html |title='BENSON MAKES SKOLARS SWITCH |publisher=Sportinglife |date=2007-12-03 |accessdate=2007-12-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001358/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague%2F07%2F12%2F03%2FRUGBYL_London_Skolars.html |archivedate=2011-06-05 }}

He remained with the renamed London Broncos until mid-season 2012 when he left the club, moving to Wales for personal and business reasons.[http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=44512 London assistant coach moves to new venture in Wales] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130201081445/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=44512 |date=2013-02-01}} rleague.com, 6 July 2012

Other sports

Tawhai was a New Zealand Fastpitch softball representative.[http://www.haringeyindependent.co.uk/sport/638597.fulltime_coach_for_skolars/ Full-time coach for Skolars] Haringey Independent, 11 October 2005 He went on to play in the United States with the Larry Miller Club in Salt Lake City and make the USA National U23 Tournament Team.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

After being resident in the UK for a number of years, he represented Great Britain at the 2004 World Softball Championships.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

Tawhai was also an Auckland Rugby Union Junior representative.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

References

External links

[http://www.league.quins.co.uk/coaches/10417.php Harlequins profile]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
[http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=38187&newstype=n&matchid=&Refid=&storytype=RL Tawhai Ready to Get Stuck In at Quins]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

{{succession box

| before =

| after = Tony Benson
2007-2008

| title = Coach
{{leagueicon|london skolars|size=18}}
London Skolars

| years = 2005-2007

}}

Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:Auckland rugby league team players

Category:Doncaster R.L.F.C. players

Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players

Category:Hunslet R.L.F.C. players