Willie Ripia

Last updated

Willie Ripia
Full nameWilliam Keho Ngametoa Ripia
Date of birth (1985-08-20) 20 August 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Murupara, New Zealand
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)
School Rotorua Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2005–2007 Waikato 27 (79)
2006 Highlanders 1 (0)
2008–2010 Hurricanes 29 (152)
2008–2010 Taranaki 34 (317)
2011 Force 7 (15)
2013 Bay of Plenty 10 (119)
2014 Wellington 5 (52)
Correct as of 26 May 2020
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2005–2006 New Zealand U21 8 (50)
2010–2012 New Zealand Māori 5 (52)
Correct as of 26 May 2020

Willie Ripia (born 20 August 1985) is a rugby union player. He plays as a first five-eighth. He was born in Murupara, New Zealand. Ripia attended Rotorua Boys' High School.

Contents

Ripia started his Super 14 career at the Highlanders before moving to the Hurricanes. He also played for Taranaki in the NPC. Ripia has played for New Zealand at U-19 and U-21 levels, and also for New Zealand Maori. In August 2010 he declared his intention to play for the Wallabies when he qualified on residency. [1] [2] He signed a two-year contract at the Western Force, but resigned in January 2012 following a serious breach of protocol. [3] Ripia currently plays as a first five-eighth for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the ITM Cup.

Domestic career

Ripia made his Waikato debut in 2005, but playing behind a logjam of backline talent, in particular Stephen Donald at flyhalf, and an injury setback early in his second year after he ruptured his Achilles tendon playing against Auckland early in 2006, demanding a lengthy rehabilitation period.

Ripia started his Super Rugby career with the Highlanders after he was called into the squad in 2006 as an injury replacement to Nick Evans, making one appearance off the bench against the Western Force.

Ripia moved to Taranaki at the end of the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup with the promise of more regular game time at Taranaki than was on offer at Waikato.

In 2008 Ripia came to the Hurricanes as a franchise player for Taranaki. Starting the season on the reserves, he broke into the Hurricanes starting fifteen against the Lions in round twelve, finishing the last four games of the season including the 2008 semi-final against the Crusaders wearing the No. 10 jersey.

He impressed again in 2009 with a series of reliable performances throughout the second half of the competition, also scoring 80 points and kicking at almost 75 per cent. Ripia surpassed 150 Super 14 points in his third season in the Hurricanes in 2010.

He then went on and signed a two-year contract at the Western Force, but resigned in January 2012. He was recruited by the Force in 2010 as a foreign development player, which meant he could eventually qualify for Australia. He missed much of last season with foot and calf injuries but played a solid role in the team's surge near the end of their 2011 campaign. He was subsequently released early from the Force for a misdemeanour, making a tentative return to top-class rugby for the 2012 Bay of Plenty Development XV.

Ripia signed for the Bay of Plenty Steamers for the ITM Cup 2013 season.

Personal life

According to the Sydney Morning Herald and other news sources, it was alleged by Western Force officials that Ripia had stolen money from other players at the club's facilities. Ripia initially denied any involvement, but resigned after being shown CCTV footage of the changing rooms. [4] It was subsequently reported that Ripia had returned to New Zealand and was seeking treatment for problem gambling. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahonri Schwalger</span> Samoan rugby union player

Mahonri Schwalger is a former Samoan professional rugby union footballer who last played in New Zealand for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Counties Manukau in the National Provincial Championship. He captained the Samoan national team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Paul Tito is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played in the lock position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Baker</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Kurt Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fullback or wing for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayden Hayward</span> Rugby player

Jayden Hayward is a New Zealand-born rugby union player who played for the Italy national rugby union team and for Benetton Rugby. He can play as a fly-half, centre or fullback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Marshall (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

James Ryan Marshall is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played in the First five-eighth, Fullback and occasionally Second five-eighth positions for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Tasman in the Bunnings NPC. He also captained the Taranaki Bulls in the ITM Cup. He is the older brother of Crusader Tom Marshall. He announced his retirement on his What a Lad Podcast in January 2021 due to an ongoing injury to his hip. He is currently the assistant coach for the Crusaders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrad Hoeata</span> Rugby player

Jarrad Hoeata is a professional rugby union player who plays for New Zealand side Taranaki. He made his debut for the All Blacks during the 2011 Tri Nations tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauden Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player (born 1991)

Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Ngatai</span> Rugby player

Charlie Ngatai is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre, although he can also cover other backline positions. Ngatai last played for Leinster Rugby in Ireland, having previously been Captain of the Chiefs, Taranaki Rugby Football Union and of the Māori All Blacks internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waisake Naholo</span> Rugby player

Waisake Ratunideuba Naholo is a New Zealand rugby union player. He previously played for the All Blacks Sevens and on the wing position for London Irish. In May 2022 he signed with Rugby New York, who play in the Major League Rugby competition.

Michael "Mike" Zavala Harley Kainga is a New Zealand rugby union player who last played for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the ITM Cup. He signed for Taranaki to play in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup. His position of choice is prop.

Brett Goodin is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays Scrum-Half for the ITM Cup franchise, Taranaki. Goodin played 75 games for Taranaki after making his debut in 2006 against Waikato. He made one Super Rugby appearance after being called into the Hurricanes in 2008. He was also called into the Chiefs in 2009 but did not take the field. Goodin has international experience as well with the New Zealand Under 19's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Franklin (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Tom Franklin is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Western Force in Super Rugby.

Chris Eves is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Sunwolves in the international Super Rugby competition.

Alexander Nigel Ainley is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a lock for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. He now works as a builder in the city of Nelson, New Zealand. And has appeared in a Scott Brown Carpentry video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Riccitelli</span> Rugby player

John Ricky Riccitelli is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for New Zealand franchise Blues. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand and took part in Francis Douglas Memorial College first XV.

Kylem Francis Te Riri O'Donnell is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup. He is also a former All Blacks Sevens representative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryn Gatland</span> New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach (1995-)

Bryn Gatland is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a fly-half for North Harbour in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition. Gatland is the son of international coach and former player Warren Gatland.

References

  1. ↑ "Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Willie Ripia signs for Force". Stuff.co.nz . NZPA. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Western Force and Ripia part ways". superxv.com. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Ripia quits Force over theft scandal". The Sydney Morning Herald . 11 January 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Ripia back in New Zealand to battle gambling issue". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.