twelvebears
19-06-2010, 22:04
As a rugby player myself, when I heard the other day that Andy Ripley had died from prostate cancer, I felt genuinely sad.
Even though he was at the peak of his England career when I was just a toddler, he was someone I remembered clearly as the tower giant from Superstars, and even later I was still able to see him playing professional club rugby when I was playing myself because he was still playing in his early 40s!
He had a reputation as someone who refused to conform to authority any yet was loved by everyone who knew him.
Through working for HSBC, I once spent an evening at a dinner attended by Martin Johnson (who also 'worked' for HSBC as part of a sponsorship deal) who unexpectedly brought Andy along as a guest dinner speaker.
That night is still one as I remember as one of the best of my life, and one where I was lucky enough to meet a hero who more than lived up to the image I had of him.
I doubt English rugby will ever see anyone like him again.
Just look at this Youtube clip and remember he's a 6'5" 17 stone No.8 not a winger.
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Even though he was at the peak of his England career when I was just a toddler, he was someone I remembered clearly as the tower giant from Superstars, and even later I was still able to see him playing professional club rugby when I was playing myself because he was still playing in his early 40s!
He had a reputation as someone who refused to conform to authority any yet was loved by everyone who knew him.
Through working for HSBC, I once spent an evening at a dinner attended by Martin Johnson (who also 'worked' for HSBC as part of a sponsorship deal) who unexpectedly brought Andy along as a guest dinner speaker.
That night is still one as I remember as one of the best of my life, and one where I was lucky enough to meet a hero who more than lived up to the image I had of him.
I doubt English rugby will ever see anyone like him again.
Just look at this Youtube clip and remember he's a 6'5" 17 stone No.8 not a winger.
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