Richard Tombs: Rugby star in court to get his ‘L’ plates back so he can learn to drive modified car after spinal injury

Former Wallaby rugby star Richard Tombs, who broke his neck four years ago, was in Manly court to get his ‘L’ plates back so he can learn to drive his new modified car.

Wheelchair-bound former Wallaby rugby star Richard Tombs has had a suspension preventing him applying for “L” plates reduced in Manly Local Court.

Tombs, 54, who suffered a life changing spinal cord injury when he broke his neck in an amateur soccer match, wants to learn how to drive a specially modified car he has on order.

But the court was told on Tuesday that Transport for NSW had stopped him applying for his learner’s permit because a previous permit had racked up too many demerit points.

Former Wallaby Richard Tombs at Royal Rehab Private Hospital at Ryde after he broke his neck in a soccer match in 2018. He was in Manly court on Tuesday to appeal a decision stopping him applying for a learner’s permit to drive his new car. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

The popular peninsula sporting identity, who played five times for Australia and was a regular with the NSW Waratahs, had his original full licence cancelled after the soccer accident, for “medical reasons”.

Tombs, a hard charging centre, was playing goalkeeper for Curl Curl in an over-35s match in mid-2018 when his head collided with the thigh of an opposing player. He suffered a C4 incomplete spinal injury.

In a wheelchair at Manly court, Tombs told Magistrate Robyn Denes that a pervious car, registered in his name, had been used by other members of his family.

Richard Tombs visited NSW Waratahs training earlier this year. Image: Waratahs Media

He told Ms Denes that he was not aware that whomever had been using that vehicle had attracted a number of demerit points, for a speeding offence, which had been assigned to his previous learner’s permit.

Tombs said he only found out that transport officials had suspended his right to another learner’s permit when he recently went to apply for his ‘L’ plates.

Richard Tombs at training for the Wallabies in Brisbane in for a test against New Zealand at Ballymore. Picture: Philip Norrish

He told the court that he was expecting delivery of a new modified vehicle “within weeks”.

“It will take me a few months to learn how to drive again, with the modifications,” he said.

Ms Denes partially upheld his appeal to allow him to apply for a leaner’s permit. he can go for his L plates from September 6.