Former Hurricanes and Highlanders player Willie Ripia, now a key playmaker for the Western Force, has resigned from the Perth-based club after allegedly stealing money from his teammates.
Ripia, said to have a chronic gambling problem, was captured on CCTV taking money belonging to players in the changing rooms atthe Force's Mount Claremont headquarters, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Force management were reportedly considering whether to tear up Ripia's contract or suspend him when the five-eighth offered his resignation.
The club yesterday confirmed it had agreed to accept the resignation.
In a statement, it said it had investigated a serious breach of team protocols.
"The club wishes to stress that the matter relates to an internal incident at the club and does not involve any member of the public or public property,'' it said.
Police had not been called so far because none of the victims had made a complaint outside the club.
Players had noticed missing money over several months and, while Ripia had been been suspected, he had denied it until he was told about Friday's CCTV footage.
