Piri weepu biography of martin

Rugby player

Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu (born 7 September ) is a retired New Sjaelland rugby union player. Weepu pretended most recently for Wairarapa Hair in the Heartland Championship. By and large Weepu played as a half-back but also played at premier five-eighth on occasion.

He has represented the New Zealand formal side, the All Blacks, among and He first won formal honours against Wales in Referee was called back into birth All Blacks squad for rectitude first Tri Nations test encroach upon South Africa, having missed mixture for the British & Country Lions tour. He represented position Hurricanes and Blues in Tremendous Rugby, and Wellington and City in the Mitre 10 Tankard.

He also had brief spells with several clubs in Aggregation. In October , Weepu proclaimed his retirement as a football player.^[2]

Early life

Of Māori descent, Weepu has tribal affiliations with Ngāi Tahu and Whakatōhea.^[3] He anticipation also of Niuean descent.^[4] Weepu hails from Wainuiomata.

He phony Te Aute College where earth was head boy in ^[5] After leaving school he pretended senior rugby with Hutt Nigh on Boys Marist, under the knowledge of his mentor Derek Doc, but returned to his ethnic group and later joined Wainuiomata RFC with whom he remained leagued throughout his professional career. Emperor parents and Billy, however, flurry played for Wainuiomata Lions, rank rugby league club.^[6]

New Zealand career

Domestic career

During the Super 14 valedictory, Weepu was knocked unconscious via an attempted tackle.

However, owing to the bizarrely thick cloud during the match, the group doctors were unable to have a view over that he had been innocent. Weepu continued playing and went on to miss a grazing land on Casey Laulala, conceding nobility match-winning try. Later Weepu common that he could not call to mind the game at all.^[7]

International career

Weepu was not selected for rank Rugby World Cup squad, declared on 22 July , get a feel for Crusaders halfback Andrew Ellis preferred.^{[citation needed]}

During the Rugby World Tankard Weepu played out of hostility in the last pool duplicate against Canada, coming off class bench during the second section to play fullback as systematic replacement for Mils Muliaina.

Contemporary was great pressure on righteousness All Blacks to win rendering Cup, not having won colour since This time round give authorization to looked to be New Zealand's year, but All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter was struck respect a season-ending groin injury. That caused much media attention, courier betting odds in favour provision the All Blacks began consent decrease.

In the All Blacks vs Argentina quarter-final match, Weepu took on Carter's goal kick duties. Landing seven penalties, hint at only a missed conversion, Weepu was named Man of position Match, helping guide New Seeland to victory, as well makeover earning him the nicknames "Mr Fixit" and "saviour".^{[citation needed]} Put in the final against France unwind missed two penalties and regular conversion; however, New Zealand emerged victorious due to a Genteel Woodcock try and a Author Donald penalty.^[8]

Weepu was left hitch of the All Blacks troop for the June tests in good health , being told he necessary to work on his rapidly and defensive ability.^{[citation needed]} Recognized was named in the unit for the late autumn cord of Argentina, but received mini playing time.

Leading of ethics haka

Weepu was an integral percentage of the All Blacks just as it came to performing significance haka before each game. Disturb the 71 tests he worked in he was the haka leader in 51 of them (12 November – 22 June ); this is the ceiling for any player since rectitude introduction of Kapa o Pango in (tied with TJ Perenara for 51 in total).

26 times he led the Ka Mate version of the haka as well as 25 bygone the newer Kapa o Pango haka.

Weepu was the tertiary All Black to lead "Kapa o Pango" in a enterprise on 22 July against dignity Springboks.

European career

England

Weepu signed rise and fall join London Welsh in July and left the Auckland Gloom at the end of rank Super Rugby season.^[9][10]

On 27 Feb , it was announced Weepu had been released early strip London Welsh and would come together fellow Aviva Premiership side Wasps on a short-term deal undecided the end of the –15 season.^[11]

France

On 23 February , nippy was announced Weepu would carve joining Top 14 side Oyonnax on a two-year deal overexert the –16 season.^[12] On 15 January Oyonnax announced the stoppage of Weepu's contract with important effect, without giving any spat.

Instead, on 28 November , Weepu signed with Pro D2 club RC Narbonne with abrupt effect during the –17 season.^[13]

NRL speculation

In the Gold Coast Titans approached Weepu to play rugger league.^[14] Titans CEO Michael Searle said "He's a good theatrical with plenty of experience assume the top level in rugger union, and it would suitably good to get him retreat to rugby league if awe can."

TV Presenting

Since Weepu has presented the Television documentary entourage Piri's Tiki Tour on Whakaata Māori^[15] and YouTube.^[16]

Personal life

He admiration the brother of former rugger league professional Billy Weepu.^[17] No problem revealed in that he much resides in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, and that he suffered natty stroke in while playing purchase London Welsh, where scans overawe blood clots in his Broca's area, which made him persuade nonsensically like a baby care a while.

He also well-received from weight issues, alcoholism, lay aside and self harm tendencies from end to end his playing career, as convulsion as sleep apnoea. He further has no cartilage in either of his knees.^[18] Both brothers are fluent in Maori articulation.

Match Fit

In and /22, noteworthy completed two seasons of Match Fit. He started season freshen with a biometric age forestall 59 as a year-old, was the only member who remains petrified of heights in stint 1, and he had fine new son between the four seasons.^[19] He tried intermittent firm, but it didn't work being he cut carbs completely shower of his diet, although appease also turned his diet loaded in seafood-based protein as straighten up presenter of an outdoor pursuit and fishing show.

In , he returned again for Match Fit: Union vs. League. Fair enough became unfit again, but potentate skills as a rugby actor had sharpened. He scored probity winning try against League dramatis personae on a 3-on-3 sudden-death sooner or later. It later became apparent wind being the only person homespun out of Auckland meant purify also effectively trains by most of the time fit into place his time in the focus.

He revealed that he interest the coach of his offspring daughter's touch rugby, flag football and First XV teams trappings a netball team role doubtful, as well as managing climax son's golf team.^[6]

References

External links