NZ's Ripia leaves Western Force amid theft scandal

New Zealand rugby player Willie Ripia has resigned from Australia’s Western Force Super 15 club after he was allegedly caught stealing from teammates, reports said on Wednesday.

Ripia (26) was captured on CCTV last week taking players’ money in the changing rooms at the Force’s Perth headquarters, the West Australian newspaper reported.

The club issued a statement late on Tuesday saying Ripia would not be part of the Western Force squad in 2012 after the club agreed to accept the fly-half’s resignation, effective immediately.

“The club has investigated a serious breach of team protocols by the New Zealand born fly-half and following a meeting this morning with senior management, Ripia offered his resignation later in the day,” the statement said.

It did not give details of Ripia’s “serious breach”.

The report said Force players had been complaining to management about losing money for several months and although Ripia was suspected of taking the cash he repeatedly denied involvement.

The loss of Ripia is a blow to the Force’s finals aspirations. The Super 15 season is less than seven weeks away and the team has already lost Wallaby back James O’Connor to the Melbourne Rebels.

A spokesperson for Ripia’s management declined to comment.—AFP