Now, he has been called up for the New Zealand Maori, a proud team which will tomorrow leave for the United Kingdom and three matches in a little over a week against Leicester Tigers, a Championship Select XV and Canada.
He also happens to be the only specialist first-five in the squad.
So, a risky call? Absolutely, says Ripia.
"Definitely, mate, they've definitely taken a risk. I guess if you take in what happened, it's real high risk. They've spoken to me about that and I guess we've had a talk about how they can help me progress and help the team and my career. It's a definite risk, I understand that. I knew that when they made the call. I did a bit of work before I got here so I've prepared myself as best as I can and I guess we'll just see how we go when you guys are watching.''
Ripia knows more than just the media will be watching - he is aware his every move will be scrutinised by the public, some of whom will ``want to throw some shots at me'' - but so far he hasn't put a foot wrong after being given what he considers a second chance.
On Saturday when the team assembled in Auckland he felt he had to address the group about his issues - without any prompting from the coaches.
"For me it was daunting. I had to address the team. You never want to be in a team or an environment where you are treated differently, [where] people have to think about what they say or how they say it or where they go. I had to say I don't want to be that person. I have to earn that trust because trust is huge.
"That was part of my process of stepping up and confronting it.''
Ripia doesn't like to go into details about his final days in Perth, but says his gambling problem started as soon as he became a professional rugby player. He made his Waikato debut in 2005 before joining the Highlanders for a season but spent most of his Super Rugby career at the Hurricanes before a move to the Force last year.
"It was tough over there. I went by myself. You start early, punting, and you finish late. I isolated myself, I didn't put myself amongst people, which is huge. I wanted to be alone so I would have no one to talk to or no one to question how I was doing things.''
Ripia hopes the Maori tour will give his rehabilitation real impetus and, realises he has a chance to showcase himself to European clubs. He says it's too early to say what his plans are. Staying in New Zealand and fighting for a Super Rugby contract is a possibility.
His gambling of choice was horse racing. And no, it hasn't escaped him that he is leaving for his shot at redemption on Melbourne Cup day, one of the biggest betting days of the year in Australasia.
"It's quite fitting that we're training through most of the day,'' he says.
At the time of the big race he will be with his teammates on Orakei Marae in Auckland for an official farewell - one, he hopes, also represents a fresh start.
Maori itinerary:
November 13 v Leicester Tigers, at Welford Road Stadium
November 17 v Championship Select XV, at Castle Park
November 23 v Canada, at Oxford University
