Willie Ripia. Photo / Getty Images
You can get away with quite a few things in rugby, even in the professional era, but former New Zealand Maori player Willie Ripia has learned that stealing from your teammates, as he is alleged to have done at the Western Force, is not one of them.
The former Hurricanes and Highlanders inside back has resigned from the Perth-based team after allegedly being caught on CCTV taking money from his teammates' belongings.
Gambling is said to be the root cause of Ripia's troubles. Australian media have reported that the Force had previously organised counselling for his issues.
The 26-year-old, who had an injury-troubled first season with the Force in 2011 after moving from the Hurricanes, had previously been confronted about money going missing from the team changing rooms but denied it. Told about the video footage in a meeting with team management, however, he resigned virtually immediately.
This season had been full of possibilities for Ripia, who was classified as the Force's overseas developing player last year and had committed his future to Australia.
He was assured of a bigger role in the backline with James O'Connor moving to the Melbourne Rebels and would have been looking forward to the prospect of regular game time after taking the field only seven times last year after various injuries.
Unfortunately for him, he already had a chequered history in New Zealand and now a European club must be his best option if he wants to continue his professional rugby career.
It's understood Ripia was officially reprimanded at least once because of behavioural issues connected to gambling and also alcohol while with the Hurricanes. Some officials there breathed a sigh of relief when he left.
Although rugby players and officials tend to turn a blind eye to the occasional gambling or alcohol indiscretion, stealing from your teammates is seen as the lowest of the low.
His timing could hardly be worse. All Super Rugby franchises will be deep into their team-building projects ahead of the new season. Ripia would have known that once he was confronted he had no future at a place where he couldn't be trusted.
Ripia, who started at Waikato, was drafted to the Highanders in 2006 as an injury replacement for Nick Evans - making one appearance off the bench. He played for the Hurricanes for three seasons from 2008.
It's unlikely Ripia will have a future at the top level in New Zealand. Coaches will be wary of his issues and the possible bad influence he could have on younger players.
Besides, they will want to promote the young talent in their own backyard, of which there is much in Ripia's best position of first five-eighths, and he shut the door on this country when committing to the Wallabies, rather than the All Blacks.
Once he has addressed his issues a European club could come calling. He is likely to be inexpensive and some coaches take pride in their abilities to take on special projects and get the best out of troubled players.
He must look at these latest events as an opportunity to get help and make a fresh start.