How will you remember the Zespri AIMS Games?
For Jay Ropati, that isn’t even a question. He can never forget the experience – his daughter’s Rip Rugby team have made sure of that.
The St Heliers School dad and his daughter Bella have returned to AIMS after making their debut last year – and there was even more to play for in 2025.
Last year, in the hopes of inspiring their first win of the tournament, coach Jay made what he described as a “deal with the devil” and promised the team that if they came away with a win, he would get himself inked with a tattoo of their choice.
“It was the first time the principal had ever gone to any of their games, so I was just trying to find something to inspire the kids and bring the best out of them.”
His daughter Bella added with a grin: “One of the main reasons he said that was because the principal was there and he wanted to show the principal how cool he was.”
Jay can admit now that he was actually rooting ever so slightly for the opposition during the later stages of the game, as worry began to build about the promise he’d made.
Come the full-time whistle though, his team’s jubilation overshadowed that worry, as they celebrated their first victory and their winning wager.
There’s no doubt that extra motivation made a difference.
“They did win a game that they weren’t supposed to win,” Jay said.
Bella explained what happened next.
“It was on the Wednesday and our motivation for the game was to win and if we won the game, he would get a tattoo of our choice. We chose the Zespri AIMS Games kiwifruit. No, two kiwifruits.”
Jay Ropati’s new ink. Photo / Alan Gibson
True to his word, the AIMS Games tattoo, which Jay had done in Malaysia, shows the famous Zespri kiwifruit mascots.
This year, Jay, not to be discouraged, doubled down on his bet and struck a new deal with his team.
If St Heliers won their first four grading games, Jay promised another tattoo and this one would be much, much bigger – and on his back.
So what happened next?
“I’m safe on that one,” Jay said, with just a little bit of relief in his voice.
–Louis Johnston, AIMS Games Media