In a dark pinstripe suit, a black cap and sandals, an elderly gentleman limps up the steps into Port Kembla Local Court.<\/p>\n
He sits head down in the foyer filling out a form for access to a Legal Aid solicitor, next to an eclectic bunch of characters – including one man with a face covered almost fully in tattoos.<\/p>\n
To those around him, the man could be just any local Port Kembla punter.<\/p>\n
But what none of them know is that the man in their midst, having phone conversations in a mix of Spanish and English, is an Australian sporting icon – former Wallabies great Enrique \u201cTopo\u201d Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez\u2019s life has gone significantly downhill in recent times, with the man who was part of the European grand slam winning tour coached by Alan Jones and wore the green and gold at the first ever World Cup, now homeless.<\/p>\n
The 73-year-old\u2019s struggles first became a point of discussion in a WhatsApp group containing his former Wallabies teammates, but have since become to be more widely known.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s living in his car at the moment,\u201d Rodriguez\u2019s solicitor Daryl Quirk told the public court on April 22.<\/p>\n
The former Wallaby\u2019s struggles have in the past two months led to him repeatedly finding himself in trouble with police.<\/p>\n
There was an alleged altercation with his housemate that led to an assault charge and an AVO being taken out for her protection, before a bizarre incident in mid-April in which Rodriguez allegedly attended a house auction – before returning when everyone left and moving his belongings in.<\/p>\n
Police were forced to come to the home and remove him, during which they allege he resisted arrest. <\/p>\n
On his recent day in court, the once iconic Wallaby found himself on the verge of ending up behind bars.<\/p>\n
Police had applied for Rodriguez to be remanded in custody, alleging he had failed to abide by a condition of his bail to reside at an address in Culburra Beach.<\/p>\n
By living in his car, Rodriguez was technically in breach of his bail.<\/p>\n
After back and forth debate between his solicitor Mr Quirk and the police prosecutor, \u201cTopo\u201d is relieved to hear he is allowed to remain in the community – with his bail address changed to a local pub where he had found accommodation for a few nights in the lead up to court.<\/p>\n
He is ordered to notify police within 24 hours should where he is living change again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts been established that you\u2019ve breached your bail… instead of revoking bail I\u2019m going to vary it today,\u201d Rodriguez is firmly told by the judge.<\/p>\n
After walking out of court in deep discussion with his solicitor Mr Quirk, the pair stop and take a selfie on the courthouse steps.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez\u2019s personal battles have become the talk of much of the rugby union community in recent months, particularly in the wake of his arrest for allegedly breaking into the home with a \u201csold\u201d sign out the front.<\/p>\n
Outside court, when asked about his former teammates and told of their concerns for him, Rodriguez becomes emotional.<\/p>\n
A qualified psychologist, Rodriguez is aware of how worked up he is after the near brush he had just experienced with being locked up and does not want to talk though about them, his past, or his current battles.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez was born in Argentina where he began playing rugby, representing his birth nation 13 times between 1979 and 1983.<\/p>\n
His final test for the Pumas was on a tour of Australia, after which he moved his family Down Under and over the next seven years played 26 Tests in the Green and Gold.<\/p>\n
Locals in the Illawarra region unsuccessfully attempted to help Rodriguez through a planned fund-raising luncheon in recent months.<\/p>\n
They have called witnessing the demise of an Australian sporting icon firsthand \u201csad\u201d and \u201cheartbreaking\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy has the sporting world forgotten this legendary Wallaby? We all hope he gets some help and support. He came to Australia from Argentina for a better life,\u201d one local said.<\/p>\n
There are plans for Rugby Australia and the Classic Wallabies – the official alumni for retired Australian players – to fund Rodriguez\u2019s return home to Argentina to live with his mother.<\/p>\n
The move would be permanent although current police charges could prevent Rodriguez from travelling.<\/p>\n
Former teammates, including Nick Farr-Jones and Bill Calcraft, are rallying to help Rodriguez, who has been in and out of hospital with pressing health issues.<\/p>\n
One former Wallaby, who did not want to be named, said: \u201cThere are a lot of people trying to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodriguez was this week back in hospital receiving treatment for, among other things, a severe injury suffered to his left leg.<\/p>\n
He has pleaded not guilty to one count of resisting arrest and another of entering enclosed lands, while he is yet to enter pleas to separate counts of resisting arrest and common assault.<\/p>\n