Tea Ropati
Encyclopedia
Tea Faa'tea Ropati is a former rugby league
player who represented New Zealand and Western Samoa
. He is currently the assistant coach with the Mangere East Hawks
.
Tea is a member of the large Ropati rugby league family that includes fellow league players Joe Ropati
, John Ropati, Iva Ropati
, union player Romi Ropati
and SKY
league commentator Peter Ropati
.
Tea is married, to Vanessa (née Hawken), and has 5 children.
and Otahuhu Leopards
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. He was a Junior Kiwi in 1983.
During the 1987 season Ropati played for Auckland
alongside three of his brothers; John, Joe and Peter.
This feat was bettered in the 1991 season when all four of them, plus brother Iva
, twice lined up for Mangere East
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition.
in 1988 before moving to England. Playing for St. Helens he made a name for himself as a Centre/Five Eighth who kicked goals. He also won the 1992/3 British First Division player of the year award.
In 1995 he returned home to join the new Auckland Warriors in the First Australian Rugby League premiership
. He was the Warriors player of the year in 1995. He stayed with the Warriors for four seasons before retiring after the 1998 season.
at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
.
In 2010 Ropati is the assistant coach with the Mangere East Hawks
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition.
. "I remember coming to. I remember an angry face over me. It was an angry, twisted face. I remember being in pain." Ropati was married at the time, and although he admitted the sexual connection he stated that it was consensual.
On 31 January 2008 a jury found him not guilty on all six charges. Multiple rugby league
personalities defended the character of Ropati in court including the Mad Butcher Peter Leitch
.
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...
player who represented New Zealand and Western Samoa
Samoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
. He is currently the assistant coach with the Mangere East Hawks
Mangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
.
Tea is a member of the large Ropati rugby league family that includes fellow league players Joe Ropati
Joe Ropati
Joe Ropati is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in nine Test Matches, including in games that counted towards the 1988 World Cup. Ropati is part of a large rugby league family that includes internationals Iva, Peter, Tea and rugby union international Romi...
, John Ropati, Iva Ropati
Iva Ropati
Iva Lewis Ropati is a former rugby league international player and High School Principal.-Early years:He grew up playing for the Otahuhu Leopards before moving to the Te Atatu Roosters where he won a Fox Memorial premiership. He later played for the Mangere East Hawks before moving to England...
, union player Romi Ropati
Romi Ropati
Romi Ropati is a retired rugby union player best known for his time with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise...
and SKY
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
league commentator Peter Ropati
Peter Ropati
Peter Ropati is a New Zealand former rugby league player and commentator who played professionally for Leigh.Ropati is from a large rugby league family that includes brothers Joe, Iva, Tea and Romi.-Playing career:...
.
Tea is married, to Vanessa (née Hawken), and has 5 children.
Early years
Tea played for both the Mangere East HawksMangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
and Otahuhu Leopards
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He was a Junior Kiwi in 1983.
During the 1987 season Ropati played for Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
alongside three of his brothers; John, Joe and Peter.
This feat was bettered in the 1991 season when all four of them, plus brother Iva
Iva Ropati
Iva Lewis Ropati is a former rugby league international player and High School Principal.-Early years:He grew up playing for the Otahuhu Leopards before moving to the Te Atatu Roosters where he won a Fox Memorial premiership. He later played for the Mangere East Hawks before moving to England...
, twice lined up for Mangere East
Mangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition.
Playing career
Ropati started his professional career with the Newcastle KnightsNewcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 1988 before moving to England. Playing for St. Helens he made a name for himself as a Centre/Five Eighth who kicked goals. He also won the 1992/3 British First Division player of the year award.
In 1995 he returned home to join the new Auckland Warriors in the First Australian Rugby League premiership
Australian Rugby League season 1995
The 1995 ARL premiership was the 88th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the first to be run by the Australian Rugby League. For the first time since 1988, the League expanded again, with the addition of four new clubs from North Queensland, Western Australia, South...
. He was the Warriors player of the year in 1995. He stayed with the Warriors for four seasons before retiring after the 1998 season.
Representative career
Ropati represented the New Zealand Kiwis between 1986 and 1997 and also played for Western SamoaSamoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
.
Later years
Ropati participated in the charity boxing event Fight for Life on several occasions during the early 2000s.In 2010 Ropati is the assistant coach with the Mangere East Hawks
Mangere East Hawks
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league based in Mangere, New Zealand. The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.-History:The club was founded in 1964, before this teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition.
Rape trial
On 21 January 2008 Ropati began a trial in Auckland on charges of rape and unlawful sexual connection, to which he pleaded not guilty. The woman stated she awoke in a car near Victoria ParkVictoria Park, Auckland
Victoria Park is a park and sports ground in Auckland City, New Zealand. It lies on reclaimed bay land in Freemans Bay, a suburb directly west of the Auckland CBD. This origin of the land makes it very flat and level...
. "I remember coming to. I remember an angry face over me. It was an angry, twisted face. I remember being in pain." Ropati was married at the time, and although he admitted the sexual connection he stated that it was consensual.
On 31 January 2008 a jury found him not guilty on all six charges. Multiple 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...
personalities defended the character of Ropati in court including the Mad Butcher Peter Leitch
Peter Leitch (Mad Butcher)
Sir Peter Charles Leitch, KNZM, QSM, is a New Zealand businessman, also known as The Mad Butcher. Although well known in New Zealand for the chain of butcheries he founded, Leitch is arguably just as well known for his charity, fundraising work and his promotion of rugby league.Born in Wellington,...
.