Born: February 10, 1963 - Auckland
Test record: 9 Tests (1983, 1985-86) - 3 tries, 3 goals (18 points)
Tours: 1985 tour of Britain and France, 1986 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, 1987 tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia
The first of the famous ΕtΔhuhu and Auckland rugby league family to represent New Zealand, centre/winger Joe Ropati played nine Tests and toured three times with the Kiwis during the 1980s.
The 20-year-old Ropati was called up to debut on the wing in the 1983 series against Australia, featuring in the 16-4 loss at Carlaw Park before scoring a memorable try in the shock 19-12 victory at Lang Park - New Zealand's first in a trans-Tasman Test in 12 years.
The three-quarter line quintet of Dean Bell, James Leuluai, Fred Ah Kuoi, Dane O'Hara and Gary Prohm had a mortgage on the Kiwis' starting spots in home series in 1984-85, but Ropati came off the bench in two Tests against Australia - including the 18-0 shutout at Carlaw Park - in the latter year. He played six games (no Tests) and kicked eight goals on the Kiwis' 1985 tour of Britain and France.
Ropati also played for New Zealand MΔori against Great Britain in 1984.
A mainstay in Graham Lowe's New Zealand backline in 1986, Ropati was on the wing for the series opener against Australia and switched to centre for the two subsequent Tests of the 3-0 defeat. He scored a try and kicked three goals from the wing in the first Test win over Papua New Guinea, then dotted down as a centre in the historic loss in the second Test in Port Moresby.
Later that year, he was part of New Zealand Universities' Tertiary World Cup win - alongside younger brother and fellow 1986 Kiwis tourist Tea, and another brother John - scoring a try in the final against Australia.
Ropati toured Papua New Guinea and Australia with the Kiwis in 1987 but played only one game.
A Fox Memorial grand final winner with the Leopards in 1983 and the competition's top tryscorer in 1985, Ropati took up his first professional contract with Warrington in the 1986-87 English winter and scored 19 tries in 33 games - including appearances in John Player Special Trophy and Premiership final losses to Lowe's Wigan side.
Ropati had two more seasons with Warrington, then switched to Swinton midway through the latter and had a season and a half with the Second Division outfit. He also spent the 1988-89 seasons with NSWRL heavyweights Manly, playing 21 first-grade games.