- Date of Birth01 / 12 / 1947
- Died17 / 06 / 2010
- Lions Tours1974
- International CapsEngland
- Lions Origin ClubsRosslyn Park, Barbarians, Brescia, Kew Occasionals
Ripley may not have started playing rugby until he was 19, at the University of East Anglia, but he still managed to earn 24 international caps for England and didn’t stop playing until he was 41.
His entire career was spent at Rosslyn Park but the No 8 was also selected for the Lions for their 1974 Tour to South Africa where he scored five tries in eight appearances.
He didn’t make a Test start with Mervyn Davies of Wales preferred but Ripley was an all-round athlete and won the inaugural World Cup Sevens with England at Murrayfield in 1973.
In 1976 he lost his England place but managed to reach the semi-finals of the 400 metres in the Amateur Athletic Association championship in 1978 and was a world veteran indoor rowing champion in 1992.
Ripley was also the winner of International Superstars in 1981 but after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he sadly passed away in 2010.