Ross Filipo
Encyclopedia
Ross Ami Filipo is a New Zealand rugby union
footballer who currently plays for London Wasps
in the Aviva Premiership.
in 2001. He then played for Wellingon B in 2002, and made his debut for Wellington
in 2003. Although he had played for the Hurricanes
development squad in 2003, he was not selected for the Hurricanes in 2004 and instead was drafted into the Crusaders for the 2004 Super 12. He has since stayed with the Crusaders for the Super 12 and Super 14 whilst playing for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup
(formerly the National Provincial Championship).
Filipo played for the New Zealand Māori
in 2005 when they defeated the British and Irish Lions
for the first time – he cites this as a career highlight. After the 2007 Super 14 season
where Filipo scored six tries
he was selected for the Junior All Blacks
. After injuries to All Black locks Ali Williams
and Keith Robinson
, Filipo was called into the All Blacks squad.
Filipo was also selected for the All Blacks end of season Grand Slam tour
at the end of 2008; he played against Scotland and Munster during this tour. He was also one of the regular guests on the Rugby Roundtable, which is a rugby union podcast based out of New Zealand.
in the French Top 14 competition; he left for Bayonne at the conclusion of the 2009 Super 14 season
.
On 11 April 2011 it was announced that Filipo would be signing for Wasps
in the English Aviva Premiership
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who currently plays for London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
in the Aviva Premiership.
New Zealand
Filipo first played provincial rugby for MarlboroughTasman Rugby Union
The Tasman Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union at the top of the South Island in New Zealand. It is New Zealand's newest provincial union, founded in 2006 with the amalgamation of the existing Marlborough and Nelson Bays sub unions...
in 2001. He then played for Wellingon B in 2002, and made his debut for Wellington
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
in 2003. Although he had played for the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
development squad in 2003, he was not selected for the Hurricanes in 2004 and instead was drafted into the Crusaders for the 2004 Super 12. He has since stayed with the Crusaders for the Super 12 and Super 14 whilst playing for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
(formerly the National Provincial Championship).
Filipo played for the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
in 2005 when they defeated the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
for the first time – he cites this as a career highlight. After the 2007 Super 14 season
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
where Filipo scored six tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
he was selected for the Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
. After injuries to All Black locks Ali Williams
Ali Williams
Alexander James "Ali" Williams is a New Zealand rugby union player at the position of lock. He represented Auckland and plays for the Blues in the Super 14, when he signed for the Tasman provincial side. In 2008, he played for the Crusaders in the Super 14 and in 2010 signed on loan for Nottingham...
and Keith Robinson
Keith Robinson (rugby player)
Keith Robinson is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. His usual position is at lock. He was first selected for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks in 2002. His career was plagued by injury, and he was selected into the 2006 All Blacks after making a remarkable comeback from a...
, Filipo was called into the All Blacks squad.
Filipo was also selected for the All Blacks end of season Grand Slam tour
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
at the end of 2008; he played against Scotland and Munster during this tour. He was also one of the regular guests on the Rugby Roundtable, which is a rugby union podcast based out of New Zealand.
Europe
In April 2009 it was announced that Filipo would be signing for BayonneAviron Bayonnais
Aviron Bayonnais is a French rugby union club from Bayonne in Pyrénées-Atlantiques that currently competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14 competition...
in the French Top 14 competition; he left for Bayonne at the conclusion of the 2009 Super 14 season
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
.
On 11 April 2011 it was announced that Filipo would be signing for Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
in the English Aviva Premiership