Background
Ripley was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, and educated at the University of East Anglia and Hughes Hall, Cambridge (Master of Philosophy).
entrepreneur rugby union player
Ripley was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, and educated at the University of East Anglia and Hughes Hall, Cambridge (Master of Philosophy).
University of East Anglia.
Ripley played for the Rosslyn Park club for his entire career. He made his international debut on 15 January 1972 at Twickenham in the England vs Wales match. Of the 24 matches he played for his national side, he was on the winning side on eight occasions.
Between June 1972 and November 1973 England defeated the three major Southern Hemisphere countries, Ripley playing in all three games.
On 3 June 1972 England beat South Africa 18–9 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. On 15 September 1973 they defeated the All Blacks 16–10 at Eden Park, Auckland, and on 17 November the same year they beat Australia 20–3 at Twickenham, Ripley scoring a try.
He played his final match for England on 21 February 1976, at Murrayfield, in the Scotland vs England match. He also played in a Presidents XV. Ripley took part in several competitions between 1981 and 1983, winning his British heat and International in 1981.
He also represented the United Kingdom in the 1981 World Championship and the 1982 International.
A tremendously strong runner, Ripley dominated the 800 metres contest, winning this race in the 1981 World final and in most events he entered. He could also have used a little luck – a puncture right at the start of the 1981 British Final cycling race cost him eight valuable points, and any chance of the title. Instead it went to Keith Fielding, his former England Rugby Sevens team-mate.
With the contest as much about camaraderie as athletic prowess for many of the competitors however, Ripley"s outgoing, larger-than-life persona fitted in very well. record Ripley was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Birthday Ripley was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, and died on 17 June 2010.
He would defend his title a year later in Hong Kong, but could not defeat the best European Superstar of all-time, Brian Hooper, finishing second.