Born: September 7, 1964 - Auckland
Test record: 7 Tests (1992-93, 1997) - 0 points
Tours: 1986 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, 1989 tour of Britain and France
Classy centre/five-eighth Tea Ropati, arguably the most successful professionally of the famous band of Ōtāhuhu and Auckland brothers, toured twice with the Kiwis during the 1980s before making seven Test appearances in the 1990s.
Tea, a Junior Kiwi in 1983, first earned selection for the Kiwis for the 1986 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, alongside older brother and 1983 New Zealand debutant Joe. He played five minor matches on tour, scoring a try against Island Zone in Kokopo.
Later that year he was one of the stars of New Zealand Universities' Tertiary World Cup win with Joe and John Ropati.
In 1987, four Ropati brothers - Tea, Joe, John and Peter - turned out for Auckland together. Tea was a tryscorer that year for a New Zealand XIII in a loss to Queensland, but he missed the Kiwis' squad for their tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Ropati was a foundation Newcastle Knights player in 1988, albeit playing just two first-grade games. The Mangere East acquisition returned to the Kiwis fold for the 1989 tour of Briain and France, but a serious knee injury ended his involvement after two appearances.
The 25-year-old's stocks soared from the 1990-91 British winter with St Helens, an association that would garner over 100 games and more the 50 tries in four seasons - including the First Division Player of the Year award as the Saints carried off the 1992-93 Premiership Trophy.
Ropati earned a Kiwis recall in 1992, making his Test debut off the bench against Papua New Guinea and being used as an interchange in both matches against Great Britain. He earned his only Test start at five-eighth for the 1993 series opener against Australia, then slipped back to the bench for the remaining two Tests.
Signed for the Auckland Warriors' foundation season in 1995, Ropati scored a try off the bench in their first-ever game against Brisbane before cementing a centre spot. He finished the year with 12 tries and was named the Warriors' inaugural Player of the Year.
Ropati represented Western Samoa at the 1995 World Cup and made one further appearance for New Zealand, again off the bench in the 1997 Anzac Test against Super League Australia.
After 72 top-grade games for the Warriors, Ropati hung up the boots at the end of the 1998 NRL season.