Rugby player's reckless drive

Jarrad Hoeata in action for the New Zealand Maori in June. Photo / Getty Images

The dangerous combination of a weekend of drinking and a sleeping pill resulted in a Super 14 rugby player going on a reckless drive that ended when motorists blocked him off the road.

Chiefs, Taranaki and New Zealand Maori representative Jarrad Hoeata pleading guilty yesterday in the Te Kuiti District Court to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving, the Waikato Times reports.

Hoeata's lawyer, Philip Morgan, told the court that the Chiefs loose forward was celebrating the end of the Super 14 season with a weekend of drinking.

After taking a sleeping pill, for reasons unknown, Hoeata began the drive from Hamilton to New Plymouth on May 16, despite the fact the 27-year-old had a training session back in Hamilton the next day.

The court was told Hoeata's reckless drive included stopping in the middle of the road, crossing the centre line and at one point passing on the right-hand side of an approaching car.

Hoeata eventually hit another motorist in Otorohanga, where his 58km drive came to an end when locals blocked him in.

Hoeata was convicted and fined $750, including $130 court costs. He was also disqualified from driving for six months.

On the charge of dangerous driving, he was convicted and discharged.

Hoeata is the second Chiefs player to be disqualified from driving this year after former All Black Sione Lauaki lost his licence when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his car near Huntly in April.