Shocking news slowly emerged yesterday that Willie Ripia would no longer use the Force, into SupeRugby 2012, and beyond.
It did not take an IRS agent to work out that something was very wrong about this situation, after the Force made it clear that an internal matter had paved the way for this course of action. Ripia had apparently become resigned to this, as his future reality, and had taken the final step.
We are living in the world of the inside word as it relates to this situation, but the noise seems constant of a demise at his own hands, as word is that CCTV footage nailed him, excuse-less. He had been caught. Thief. Players had previously complained about missing money, and while he had been suspected, he had denied any wrong-doing, even more than once. This time, after viewing the images, and no doubt receiving encouragement, he decided to resign.
This context is made clear by a Force insider who, although making it clear this was a regrettable move, affirmed that “at the end of the day, a football club can only operate if there is trust.”
Discussions to date have moved this to the personal level, but it must also be remembered that Ripia has broken the law. The club may have decided it was in all their best interests to end the Ripia/Force narrative here. Ripia had nowhere else to run.
Jokes will be made – guilty. We are very prone to run to humour as we are at a personal disconnect, only presented with an idea.
Is is clear that Willie Ripia has made some very bad moves to require this decision. However, has the Force followed suit? Has this rugby unit made the right decision in effectively sacking the man? Was there a better route for a better solution for both man and team?
Let’s digress.
Ripia vs Guildford?
The Zac Guildford account has done the rounds, as did he, in Rarotonga. This was not the first time this player had a situation with a drink of choice, but it was likely, the most serious. The NZRU was on the ball, sending a rapid reconnaissance team over to the Islands, extricating their man before the situation moved from worse to worse-r. Significantly for Guildford’s future, the NZRU committed itself to his cause, now walking through a process toward a firm foundation, future tales yet to be told.
Guildford was a Rugby World Cup winning, All Black, which makes his property rather fond of keeping.
On the other hand, Willie Ripia, was only watching from afar. Nevertheless, he had been signed from his New Zealand home, as a foreign development player, which means he could eventually qualify for Australia. He was also no playing mug; attaining much honour for the NZ U19 & 21 sides, before reaching the Super level that also paved his way for the Mana that is making New Zealand Maori.
While the point is that, like Guildford, Ripia was a player worth keeping, the intersection of these realities diverge when reflecting on the larger connections in their acts.
Guildford’s was a long way from home, both physically and from a team perspective. Ripia’s acts, however, are tearing at the very fibre of the team concept of rugby, renting it asunder, making unity the ground where any future trust is a hope now decimated toward its death.
Sadly, his previous deceit has made this an easy decision to make. One can only wonder how this would have played out if the player had confided, accepted responsibility of issue at the club, seeking both recompense and assistance. Even if we are talking present Wallaby player, the present fracture of events makes any movement forward very difficult, without some absolution.
Ben Cousins is still finding out about the consequences of living life on the edge in and out of another code – the AFL – which leads us to something more pressing.
The Bigger Context
While it should not be construed that this piece is pointing Ripia in Ben’s direction, the point of the Cousins example is that it can be a very long road down, to a very dark descent. When a potential habit that purportedly has a professional athlete stealing from his mates, it is time to sound any alarms. When it is revealed that this is likely not the first time he has been implicated; one does have to seriously consider the drive, the compulsion, the mindset that would exhort and cajole someone to risk it all, over and again. There is a stark warning about the cost of a consumptive addiction.
One does have to ask how it potentially became so bad? Were there no signs? What about the support structures for the players in the West?
Reports do affirm that Ripia has previously had some counselling on this issue. Speculation will move to the why question, which will likely center on the source or the need for the funds; the rationale; some explanation. After all, incredulity will point to Ripia as a professional sportsman in the prime of his career who had been lured over to the West, making it reasonable to assume that they made it worth his while, with a fairly healthy remuneration package.
That is gone. Career now in limbo. A sporting future for Australia unknown. Time spent building now in ruins. But, life still goes on.
Where to Now?
Speaking of life; where to now? Europe? Maybe, South Africa? With time being so close to the SupeRugby season, an open door in Australia looks likely, closed. Given what has just transpired, it would also seem unlikely that any other franchise would consider this pivot as an option, right there, right now. An injury mid-season may provide a way of escape. New Zealand’s Super franchises have already named their squads and wider training groups, with Ripia more likely to come home for very different reasons. The season in Japan is nigh on finished, which may be helpful to encourage him on a redemptive segway. While Europe could be his best bet, given the larger narrative; it would seem that time needs to be taken to regroup, considering a more significant perspective.
Support Structures.
His family, understandably in a state of shock, epitomised by Aunt in New Zealand who states her disbelief this way, ”Was it a setup, did it actually happen? He’s such a good kid, which is why I don’t understand.” Reports affirm that most of his immediate family have also relocated to Perth, underscoring the huge hope in his future, and the monumental consequences of his acts.
It has been clear, in testing the waters, that the rugby community in New Zealand is mostly feeling for a fallen brother, believing this to be the exception to the rule. This is what we all desire. The empathy in our humanity resonates within. However, if this is not an exception, the worst treatment is to “treat” it as such, as ultimately the man and those closest will bear the consequences of our truth betrayal.
On this site, we have discussed probably the strongest example of how the off the field issues can derail a career, in Tiger Woods. It has taken this man some two years to start to look something like the player he once was. Ripia now joins the list of those finding the off-field destination, the more significant opponent.
Ripia still has a world, literally at his feet. A redemption presupposes a rupture. It may not be as storybook or as golden, but it can still be more than memorable. He stands at the crossroads. I hope he moves on.
What Say You?
Until Next Time
iamjonnyking
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