Rugby world mourns death of Andy Ripley

RUGBY Players' Association chief executive Damian Hopley has paid tribute to former England international Andy Ripley, who passed away earlier today at the age of 62 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Ripley won 24 caps between 1972 and 1976, scoring two tries, and was selected for the triumphant 1974 Lions tour to South Africa. He did not begin playing rugby until he was 19 and continued until he was 41, spending his whole career at Rosslyn Park. The hard-running No8 was a brilliant all-round athlete, competing in the 400 metres at the United Kingdom Athletics Championship, and was world veteran indoor rowing champion.

A chartered accountant, Ripley was a colourful and popular figure who received an OBE in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List.

"Andy was a colossus, both as an athlete and a human being. His achievements for England and his beloved Rosslyn Park marked him out as one of the most skilful, dynamic and inspirational rugby players of his generation," said Hopley.

"His passing is a great loss to the rugby community, and the world is a duller place without him. We send our deepest condolences to his family. Andy Ripley was, and will remain, one of a kind."