Tracy NealOpen Justice multimedia journalist, Nelson-Marlborough·NZ Herald·10 Jul, 2026 05:00 AM6 mins to read‌Sakaria Taulafo during a Wales vs Samoa game at Waikato Stadium at the Rugby World Cup 2011. The New Zealand-based Samoan-born rugby player has lost a final bid for a discharge without conviction on a drink-driving charge. Photo / Christine CornegeA former international rugby player’s bid to remain in New Zealand after being caught drink-driving has hit another hurdle, but not the end of the road.

Samoan-born Sakaria Taulafo was back in court this week in an effort to remove the blot on his copybook, being a conviction for drink-driving