Piri Weepu
Encyclopedia
Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu is a New Zealand
rugby union
footballer
. He plays scrum-half for the All Blacks
on international level, Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship
and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He first won national honours against Wales
in 2004. In 2005 was called back into the All Blacks squad for the first Tri Nations test against South Africa
, having missed selection for the 2005 British and Irish Lions
tour. He is the brother of former rugby league professional Billy Weepu
.
descent, Weepu hails from Wainuiomata
, he played his senior rugby with Hutt Old Boys Marist, under the tutelage of his mentor Derek Bruce. He attended Te Aute College
where he was Head Boy.
Final, Weepu was knocked unconscious during an attempted tackle. However, due to the bizarrely thick fog during the match, the team doctors were unable to see that he had been unconscious. Weepu was allowed to continue playing, and went on to miss a tackle on Casey Laulala
, conceding the match-winning try. Later Weepu admitted that he could not remember the game at all. .
Weepu was not selected for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
squad, announced on 22 July 2007, with Canterbury halfback Andrew Ellis preferred. The selectors cited form as being a bit wobbly and attitude for Weepu's demotion.
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup
Weepu played out of position in the last pool match against Canada, coming off the bench during the second half for Mils Muliaina
to play fullback. Much pressure was on the All Blacks
to the Cup, after not having won it since 1987. This time round it looked to be New Zealands year, but the unthinkable happened, All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter was struck with a season ending groin injury. This caused much media strife and even betting odds in favor of the All Blacks began to decrease. In the All Blacks vs Argentina quarter final match, Weepu took on Carter's goal kicking duties. Landing seven penalties with only a missed conversion, along with his outstanding general performance in play, Weepu was named Man of the Match, helping guide New Zealand to victory. He has since become known as "Mr Fixit" or the "saviour".
Weepu currently leads the All Blacks team in the pre-match Haka
, both the Ka Mate
version and the newer Kapa O Pango.
to sign Weepu to play rugby league
. Gold Coast CEO Michael Searle
said "He's a good player with plenty of experience at the top level in rugby union, and it would be good to get him back to rugby league if we can." Weepu has already been offered a formal invitation to play for the Kiwis
in the centenary All Golds
celebration by the New Zealand Rugby League
. However Weepu did not take part. He since signed on to New Zealand Rugby, playing for the Wellington-based Hurricanes until the end of 2011 then signing for the Auckland Blues for two further years.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
. He plays scrum-half for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
on international level, Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He first won national honours against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in 2004. In 2005 was called back into the All Blacks squad for the first Tri Nations test against South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, having missed selection for the 2005 British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour. He is the brother of former rugby league professional Billy Weepu
Billy Weepu
Billy Weepu is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Manly Sea Eagles. He is the brother of All Black Piri Weepu.-Early years:...
.
Early life
Of Māori and NiueanNiuean
Niuean may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Niue, an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean** A person from Niue, or of Niuean descent. For information about the Niuean people, see Demographics of Niue and Culture of Niue. For specific persons, see List of Niueans.** The...
descent, Weepu hails from Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata is a suburban town located within the city limits of Lower Hutt - and part of the greater Wellington urban area - in the lower North Island of New Zealand...
, he played his senior rugby with Hutt Old Boys Marist, under the tutelage of his mentor Derek Bruce. He attended Te Aute College
Te Aute College
Te Aute College is a school in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It opened in 1854 with twelve pupils under Samuel Williams, an Anglican missionary, and nephew and son-in-law of Bishop William Williams. It has a strong Māori character.It was built on land provided by Te Whatuiapiti, a hapu...
where he was Head Boy.
Rugby career
During the 2006 Super 14Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
Final, Weepu was knocked unconscious during an attempted tackle. However, due to the bizarrely thick fog during the match, the team doctors were unable to see that he had been unconscious. Weepu was allowed to continue playing, and went on to miss a tackle on Casey Laulala
Casey Laulala
Casey Laulala is a New Zealand rugby union player.He attended Woodhouse Grove School in the sixth form on a scholarship.-Career:...
, conceding the match-winning try. Later Weepu admitted that he could not remember the game at all. .
Weepu was not selected for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad, announced on 22 July 2007, with Canterbury halfback Andrew Ellis preferred. The selectors cited form as being a bit wobbly and attitude for Weepu's demotion.
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
Weepu played out of position in the last pool match against Canada, coming off the bench during the second half for Mils Muliaina
Mils Muliaina
Junior Malili Muliaina , better known as Mils Muliaina, is a rugby union player. He plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and New Zealand at international level. He was born in Salesi, Samoa, then moved with his family to Invercargill, New Zealand, at the age of two...
to play fullback. Much pressure was on the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
to the Cup, after not having won it since 1987. This time round it looked to be New Zealands year, but the unthinkable happened, All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter was struck with a season ending groin injury. This caused much media strife and even betting odds in favor of the All Blacks began to decrease. In the All Blacks vs Argentina quarter final match, Weepu took on Carter's goal kicking duties. Landing seven penalties with only a missed conversion, along with his outstanding general performance in play, Weepu was named Man of the Match, helping guide New Zealand to victory. He has since become known as "Mr Fixit" or the "saviour".
Weepu currently leads the All Blacks team in the pre-match Haka
Haka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
, both the Ka Mate
Ka Mate
"Ka Mate" is a Māori haka composed by Te Rauparaha, war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe of the North Island of New Zealand.-The creation and composition of Ka Mate:...
version and the newer Kapa O Pango.
NRL speculation
There has been interest from the Gold Coast TitansGold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
to sign Weepu to play rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. Gold Coast CEO Michael Searle
Michael Searle
Michael Searle is an Australian businessman and rugby league football identity. He is the Chief Executive for the Gold Coast Titans, the National Rugby League's most recently added team...
said "He's a good player with plenty of experience at the top level in rugby union, and it would be good to get him back to rugby league if we can." Weepu has already been offered a formal invitation to play for the Kiwis
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in the centenary All Golds
All Golds
The All Golds could mean;*The touring party of New Zealand players in the 1907–1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain*The New Zealand national rugby league team itself*The 2007 All Golds Tour in celebration of the original tour...
celebration by the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
. However Weepu did not take part. He since signed on to New Zealand Rugby, playing for the Wellington-based Hurricanes until the end of 2011 then signing for the Auckland Blues for two further years.