Fly-half Willie Ripia has been named in the Maori All Blacks squad for their short UK tour, beginning a comeback 10 months after his career foundered when he admitted stealing from team-mates at the Western Force.
Ripia resigned from the Force in January after being confronted with CCTV footage showing him stealing from team-mates' wallets and bags at the team's Perth headquarters. He has since been undergoing counseling for a gambling addiction.
The Maori team will play the Leicester Tigers on November 13, a Championship Selection on November 17 and Canada at Oxford on November 23.
Coach Jamie Joseph said Ripia's selection for the tour would be an important step in his battle against the addiction.
"He's had some troubles but part of this team is about promoting our people, promoting our players," Joseph told Radio Sport.
Joseph, who was at the helm of the last NZ Maori campaign (now Maori All Blacks) in 2010 which featured Ripia, handed Bay of Plenty stalwart Tanerau Latimer the captaincy of the 26-strong squad.
"We have selected Tanerau as captain for his perfect mix of talent and leadership on and off the field," Joseph said.
"We are very excited about this tour to England as the programme offers an excellent opportunity to display the depth of talent we have."
The side also features Hika Elliot who lost out to Dane Coles for the third hooking spot on the All Blacks' European tour and lock Jarrad Hoeata who played three times for the All Blacks last year, but missed out on the World Cup squad.
New Zealand Maori tour squad:
Backs: Trent Renata, Andre Taylor, Kurt Baker, Kade Poki, Declan O'Donnell, Charlie Ngatai, Jackson Willison, Tim Bateman, Willie Ripia, Jamison Gibson-Park, Frae Wilson.
Forwards: Elliot Dixon, Tanerau Latimer, Karl Lowe, Shane Christie, Nick Crosswell, Jarrad Hoeata, Jason Eaton, Romano Graham, Ross Filipo, Ben May, Bronson Murray, Ben Afeaki, Jacob Ellison, Hika Elliot, Quentin MacDonald.
Comments
cuw3100 says...
is Declan O'Donnell the wing who played 7s for NZ ?
Posted 04:57 05th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Yep his Dad is Tongan & his mother is a Maori from Whakatane (poroporo)..Met him at the Mataatua (bay of plenty) sports awards! lovely fulla-must have been his Tongan side lol
Posted 06:22 31st October 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
How about this NZ Maori Team! (15)Dagg (14)Jane (13)Kahui (12)Carter (11)Gear (10)Cruden (9)Smith (8)Messam (7)Latimer (6)LBraid (5)Eaton (4)Hoeata (3)Hayman (2)Coles (1)Afeaki.
Pipe Dream I know! but a good team none the less.Will provide Tier 1 Nations with a very competitive game
Posted 02:53 31st October 2012
rakavi187 says...
I thought Ben Afeaki was Tongan???
Posted 20:03 30th October 2012
5Lock4ward says...
Good for Jason Eaton. I think he's been unlucky w/ injury and for being mismanaged in the attempts to make him play on the open-side flank during his test career.
Posted 12:34 30th October 2012
melkdave says...
Im hopefully at least 2 moari games may be telvised as they are midweek,but we will have to see.Its a decent squad considering injuries and its touring at the same time as the ABs ,and im really looking forward to seeing some ggreat matches
Posted 11:29 30th October 2012
ferdie says...
Ramage, my error re Ripia, yes an ex-Taranaki man. I lived in Wellington for some of his Hurricanes career, never impressed - in the adequate but not memorable category in terms of consistency as a player, a decent kicking average though. The W Force really was his big chance as the contract included his being eligible for Wallabies selection and presume paid higher for this than a standard Super contract would have.
Jamison Gibson-Park is a good prospect, close to selection in this year's U-20 squad, and for this tour picked ahead of the other (adopted) Taranaki halfback Chris Smylie (30) who has played for NZ Maori several tours in the past - good to see them giving some young talent a chance.
Posted 23:43 29th October 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Not a bad squad! few unavailable due to injury/OE.Robbie Robinson,Guilford,Maitland Luke Braid.. and 10 members in the A'B's squad..Will be an added bonus for rugby enthusiasts over the autumn tests.
Posted 19:42 29th October 2012
Ramage says...
Ferdie Ripia played for Taranaki before leaving to go to the Force. I spoke to him about his move to Perth when back at the 125 Anniversary celebrations. However he was not rated by many of the Ferdy Fans I spoke to. Not sure whether that was because his signing had been announced and fans never like seeing a player leaving so therefore bag him. Would be interested in your point of view.
Very interesting comment by Jamie Joseph about Ripia's rehabilitation. Not condoning what Ripia did but it does show how rugby can rally around and help someone who has stumbled in their life. He has the chance lets hope he can take it in both hands. No pun intended.
Posted 13:59 29th October 2012
ferdie says...
five from Taranaki's ITM team, congrats to them: Jarrad Hoeata (Ngati Kahungunu), Jason Eaton (Ngati Apa), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ngati Porou/Nga Tai), Andre Taylor (Ngati Tuwharetoa/Ngati Kahungunu), Kurt Baker (Ngapuhi) well-deserved selections after a good ITM season. And Andrew Hore with Beauden Barrett in the ABs squad, a good day for the amber and blacks.
Not a lot of international esp in this Maori All Blacks squad, I think Hoeta, Eaton, FIlipo and Eliot the only ones to have played for the ABs, and none of those for many matches. Good luck to them - just hoping there is some tv coverage though with so many internationals on at same time, may be doubtful.
Posted 10:37 29th October 2012