Australia’s rugby community is rallying around Wallabies legend Enrique Rodriguez after a court heard he is living in his car.
Nicknamed ‘Topo’, the Argentina-born great of the game stamped himself as one of the world’s greatest forwards in a career that saw him play 26 Tests for his adopted country and form an integral part of the team that won the Grand Slam in 1984.
The 73-year-old appeared before Port Kembla Local Court on the NSW south coast recently, with his legal representative revealing his homelessness after Rodriguez was accused of breaching bail conditions.
Rodriguez has been hit with an assault charge and AVO over an alleged clash with a housemate.
He also allegedly resisted arrest in mid-April when police arrived to remove him from a home he is accused of moving his belongings into when it was up for auction, News Corp reported.
‘He’s living in his car at the moment,’ Rodriguez’s solicitor Daryl Quirk told the court on April 22.
Enrique Rodriguez is pictured during his stellar career for the Wallabies
Nicknamed ‘Topo’, the veteran of 26 Tests for Australia (pictured) has fallen on hard times and is living out of his car, a court has been told
Rodriguez (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to one count of resisting arrest and one count of entering enclosed lands
Police sought to have the ex-Wallaby remanded in custody for allegedly breaching bail by failing to abide by a condition stating he must live at a property at Culburra Beach, east of Nowra.
Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to one count of resisting arrest and one count of entering enclosed lands.
He has not yet entered a plea to a separate count of resisting arrest, and a count of common assault.
The judge decided to change the conditions of Rodriguez’s bail so he could remain in the community while living at a local pub where he had found accommodation.
Legendary former teammates of the front-rower including ex-skipper Nick Farr-Jones are rallying to help ‘Topo’, according to the publication, which also quoted an unnamed Wallabies veteran as saying, ‘There are a lot of people trying to help him.’
Rodriguez has also been hospitalised recently for treatment on a ‘severe injury’ to his left leg.
A qualified psychologist who played 213 matches for Argentina before coming Down Under, he captained Australia for one match in 1987 and became a fan favourite with his rugged play.
Rodriguez – who once headed the Argentine Chamber of Commerce in Australia – was also bashed by a passenger when he was driving cabs.
The man was $9 short of the fare and left the footy icon bleeding after punching him twice.
‘In hindsight, I was lucky,’ Rodriguez said.
‘If I’d got out of the car I would have murdered the guy. What then? I’d be in jail. All for nine bucks.’
