Career
He was a Junior Kiwi in 1983. Ropati is married, to Vanessa (née Hawken), and has 5 children. Ropati started his professional career with the Newcastle Knights in 1988 before moving to England.
Playing for Saint Helens he made a name for himself as a centre/five eighth who kicked goals.
During the 1991-1992 season he played in Saint Helens" 24-14 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1991 Lancashire Cup final at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on 20 October 1991. During the 1992-1993 season he played at stand-off in the 4-5 defeat by Wigan in the 1992 Lancashire Cup final at Knowsley Road, Saint Helens, on 18 October 1992.
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.
Ropati represented the New Zealand Kiwis between 1986 and 1997 and also played for Western Samoa at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Ropati participated in the charity boxing event Fight for Life on several occasions during the early 2000s. 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 Park.
"I remember coming to I remember an angry face over medical
lieutenant 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.