Former All Black Ron Cribb has a secret weapon when it comes to anything competitive – his immense resilience. Ironically, it’s a trait he learned growing up with the charity he now represents on this season of Celebrity Treasure Island.
Stand For Children takes in some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable children, who suffer from trauma, abuse and neglect, and provides a safe environment for them to learn to thrive.
“The reason I chose them is because I was one of them,” says Ron, 46. “I went there when I was nine or 10 with my brother. I’m really grateful for what they did to give us hope. They show children what it’s like to be loved and cared for, and teach them that their life is purposeful.”
Having entered Treasure Island as an intruder on day seven, Ron is one of 21 celebrity contestants competing for the $100,000 prize money, which goes towards their chosen charity. Ron’s choice is a huge motivator for him, he says.
To be successful at anything, and especially to be at the very top of your game, there are a lot of elements at play, but Ron acknowledges that if it wasn’t for Stand For Children, he might not have made it as one of New Zealand’s top rugby players.
“To become an All Black, you’ve got to put yourself out there and you’ve got to believe in yourself,” explains Ron. “Multiple traumatic things happened throughout my upbringing, which have been a big challenge for me.
Putting it all on the line for the All Blacks.
“I’ve had to fight for a long time to get the achievements that I’ve had. But as a child, learning that, even if a lot of things aren’t going so great, that people still care, it’s given me resilience and it’s helped me to be resilient throughout my life.”
Although he obviously has natural-born talent, the road to his impressive career was tough. At one point early on in his rugby journey, Ron had resorted to living in his car.
“Being selected for the New Zealand 19s while sleeping in a car is pretty unique,” he confides. “But then trying to stay in the position where you become a professional was really challenging.
“I could have given up. I could have thrown in the towel, but I didn’t. No one else will know the commitment, emotionally and physically, that I had to give to achieve that. I’m really proud of that.”
Celebrity Treasure Island isn’t the first reality show Ron has starred on. He’s also competed on Match Fit, a show which sees a group of 40- and 50-something ex All Blacks prepare for a comeback match, to bring awareness to men’s physical and mental health.
Intruder Ron gave his team the winning edge.
“Seeing the suicide levels out there amongst men, I thought, ‘You know what? I’ve got an opportunity to do something. I’m gonna put myself out there and I could get ridiculed for it, but I want to help break down some of these barriers men face,'” he asserts.
“Just showing vulnerability to try and help the cause… the wave of support that came with it was overwhelming.”
Spinal injuries ended his rugby career and so the show was particularly hard for Ron. But the lessons learned helped him prepare for Treasure Island, even more so with a horrific injury he endured right before the show started filming.
“I fell off a push bike,” he tells. “The pedal ripped through my skin.”
It’s a good thing he’s not only relying on his physical ability to succeed on the show.
Ron says he’s also calling on his well-honed powers of observation. “One of my strengths is being able to walk into a situation and suss people out,” he says. “You want to see people under pressure – that’s when the truth comes out. It’s really hard to hide when you’re under pressure and then you’ve got to perform.”
While filming Treasure Island, he missed his partner and children – a daughter and son aged 20 and 18 respectively. But there were at least some familiar faces around, even if they were his competitors.
“Mike King’s a Massey High School boy,” says the West Auckland local. “I used to steal his K Bars from his tuck shop that he used to run. He was saying to me the other day, ‘I remember when you and [ex All Black] Troy Flavell would come in, and I was always prepping food for you two for winning Player of the Week.’ We go way back. And I know Melodie Robinson through rugby circles.”
So does he think he stands a chance of nabbing the prize money?
“I’m gonna have to really try and keep my head above water,” admits Ron. “But I guess just being on the show and having Stand For Children see me representing them, knowing that one of the children they took in ended up becoming an All Black…
“For me, that’s what I’m really proud of. It’s the least I can do for them.”
Watch Celebrity Treasure Island Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
