After winning the Rugby World Cup last year, 2012 has been tough for Piri Weepu. He’s had to cope with a storm of controversy and long separations from his two daughters. To top it all off, both girls have had health scares that sparked misleading media reports they are suffering from epilepsy. First, Keira (19 months) had to have a brain scan and then her little sister Taylor (8 months) was rushed to hospital for tests.
“They’re fine,” reassures Piri. “They’re not epileptic, but both did need some basic checkups. Keira still has to have a brain scan every now and then as she was quite sick in her first year and had a couple of seizures. But it was due to bad ear infections, not epilepsy – sometimes your body overheats so much you end up with seizures. Now she’s had grommets put in her ears, so she’s pretty good.”
Taylor’s health scare was entirely unrelated. “That was a worry,” admits Piri. “She took a tumble at home and hit her head, so her mum Candice took her to Wellington Hospital and they kept her in overnight. I flew down from Auckland to make sure she was okay. She had a scan but it was fine and now she’s back to her usual self. She must have a hard head!”
It wasn’t either girl’s first visit to hospital. “Taylor had a sore tummy, and was in and out of hospital for tests but nothing showed up,” says Piri. “Then they discovered she’s allergic to dairy and cats, among other things.”
The girls are the centre of Piri’s world, so making the decision last year to move to Auckland to play for the Blues was difficult. While it was a good career move, it’s meant being separated from his daughters, who have stayed in his home town Wellington with their mum Candice Russell.
“It’s tough not being able to see them all the time,” admits the softly spoken All Black. “I miss them heaps and always worry about them. I text Candice constantly for updates or just to find out what she’s got planned for them every day. “I miss out on lots of things. I wasn’t there for Keira’s first tooth, which I was pretty sad about. She’s saying lots of new words now, but if I’ve been away she can be shy with me at first. “Once, I’d had a shave and a haircut and she didn’t recognise me at all and started crying!”
Keira is a bright little thing who never sits still, while Taylor is still at the gorgeous baby stage, happiest in Daddy’s arms. Piri is aware of how important it is to spend time with his girls. “I had lots of time with Keira because I broke my leg and was at home with her,” he explains. “Now I’m trying to build that same bond with Taylor.”
The recent Blues tour of South Africa was the longest Piri has been overseas since the girls were born. “It was hard not having them around, but that’s just part of the job,” he says. “I skyped them and they got all excited when they realised it was me. Candice picks up a lot of Keira’s words and tells me what she’s trying to say.”
Now he’s found a suitable place to live in Auckland, Piri is thrilled the girls can join him from time to time. But with a busy training schedule, he’s had to learn how to be super-organised. “I’ve never been a planner,” Piri admits. “But now I’ve got my girls I have to plan better. It’s pretty full on when they’re with me. I’m up at 6am for training and go straight home afterwards to look after them. I love to read stories to Keira if I can get her to sit still long enough. She keeps me on my toes. When it’s quiet you know she’s up to something. If I’m not careful she’ll take the house apart!”
Piri is such a tender, loving dad, it seems unfair he ended up getting caught in controversy after being photographed bottle-feeding Taylor as part of an advertising campaign for the Health Sponsorship Council. Breastfeeding campaigners complained and the shot was pulled, resulting in a fiery debate about bottles versus breast milk.
“I was pretty brassed off with the way things blew up,” Piri says. “We made a choice to bottle-feed for our own reasons. I would never tell someone else how to bring up their child.” Piri has been hands-on with his daughters’ care since they were born. “Well, their mother had to go through two pregnancies and births,” he explains. “So I made sure I did whatever I could to help her get the rest she needed.”
Inevitably, Piri’s career will mean more time away from his family, and while he loves rugby, it’s never easy being parted from his girls. He’s still adjusting to his new life in Auckland and isn’t sure how he’ll juggle career and family for the rest of the year.
“But I know it’s important for me to focus on doing what’s right for my career right now and to plan for the time after rugby,” says the 29-year-old. “I’ve always wanted children. I wouldn’t say I’d like a big family, but at some stage I’d like a couple more. So I want to make sure I can create a good life for myself and them in the future.”
As for the harsh criticism that’s been directed at him, Piri shrugs it off, saying, “I’m just focusing on doing my job.” Yes, he agrees 2012 hasn’t been the easiest so far, but Piri is staying positive. “It’s still only the beginning of the year. Hopefully things will get better,” he says.
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