Abandoned Western Force first five Willie Ripia earns chance with the New Zealand Mao

Troubled first five earns Maori call up
MARC HINTON
Last updated 16:00 29/10/2012

One name stood out in Jamie Joseph’s New Zealand Maori rugby squad to tour the UK.

Only one player hasn’t earned his trip with some quality rugby on the national provincial scene. That name, of course, is troubled five-eighths Willie Ripia, the former Taranaki and Hurricanes No 10 who’s working his way back up the ranks after coming clean on a gambling addiction that wrecked his move to the Western Force.

Joseph was relaxed and up front about the selection of the now Rotorua-based 27-year-old who has been turning out for the Bay of Plenty development side this season while he’s dealt with his off-field problems.

Ripia has been receiving counselling for his gambling addiction and told Fairfax Media he is determined to turn his life around and overcome a problem that has dogged him for his entire professional career.

The Kiwi left the Force in disgrace because of it, and he now gets to use the New Zealand Maori team as his first major step to proving he can still be relied on as a team-mate and as a player to perform in the higher echelons of the game.

Joseph reckoned, for his part, that there was no better platform than the Maori to help a man like Ripia rebuild a tattered career.

“Willie is a class player and has been part of the Maori team for a couple of years, and has played Super Rugby for a long time,” said Joseph today.

“He’s had some troubles as well.

“But part of this team is to promote our people and promote our players. I guess in Willie’s situation it gives him a second chance. He’s an experienced football player who’s going to the UK to play three games in two weeks and at first five he’s the guy responsible for driving our game-plan.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...-Maori-call-up

Good luck to him and all the best with dealing with his affliction

3/1 he scores a brace of tries.

I think he has backed himself!

New Zealand Mao? Is this the new chinese-backed team?:sarcastic:

I wish him all the best and hope that he has broken the back of the issues.

Good luck to him.
Of course, as a former Wanneroo player Jamie was always going to be prepared to help him wasn't he Zed.

hopefully he has sorted all his issues out!

Everyone is entitled to some f*ups, I'm sure he just wants to get on with it, wish him the best.

"Abandoned Western Force first five Willie Ripia"

FFS... To kick the Force, queue here.

And it wasn't because he was a gambling addict, it was because he was a thief.

That said, I still wish him all the best, the dummy spit is more at the media.