An up and coming rugby star has found motivation from the brutal rape and murder of his high school sweetheart.
Evaan Reihana, 23, said the personal pain of losing his former girlfriend India Chipchase has driven him to be the best he can be – including fighting it out for a spot on the All Blacks Rugby Union team.
Ms Chipcase was leaving a nightclub in the UK on January 30, 2016, when she was approached by a man, later discovered to be Edward Tenniswood.
India Chipcase (pictured) was brutally murdered after leaving a nightclub drunk and alone
Mr Reihana (pictured with India) paid tribute to his high school sweetheart shortly after she died saying that he would ‘be playing for you for as long as I know’
He promised to help her get home safely, and piled the intoxicated 20-year-old into a taxi.
Her body was found the next day in Tenniswood’s flat. She had been raped, battered and strangled to death.
She suffered more than 60 injuries, and though Tenniswood denied he had murdered her, he was found guilty and jailed for over 30 years.
Tenniswood seemingly targeted the young woman, who Prosecutor Chris Donnellan said was in a ‘paralytic state’ and grabbed her arm possessively before taking her home.
Her body was found the next day in Tenniswood’s (pictured) flat. She had been raped, battered and strangled to death
Ms Chipcase was leaving a nightclub in the UK on January 30, 2016, when she was approached by a man, later discovered to be Edward Tenniswood
He promised to help her get home safely, and piled the intoxicated 20-year-old into a taxi
She had only recently moved home at the time of the attack.
In the months prior, she had been living with Mr Reihana in France, where he was contracted to French Top 14 club the Bordeaux Begles.
Mr Reihana told the Herald on Sunday he would always carry Ms Chipcase’ memory in his heart, and she would continue to motivate him to succeed.
‘She will always be in my heart – I will always have a place for her in my heart.
Mr Reihana paid tribute to his high school sweetheart shortly after she died, saying that he would ‘be playing for you for as long as I know.’
Evaan Reihana, 23, said the personal pain of losing his former girlfriend India Chipchase (pictured together) has driven him to be the best he can be – including fighting it out for a spot on the All Blacks Rugby Union team
‘I went through a rough patch; just thinking that if she didn’t go home … that this wouldn’t have happened,’ he said.
He recently returned home to New Zealand from France to try his hand at following in his father’s footsteps.
Mr Reihana’s father, Bruce, played two tests for the All Blacks in 2000.
He also served as an alternate in the 1999 World Cup, but was never called upon.
He has had a stellar career internationally, and currently works as a skills coach for the Bristol Bears.
But for the younger of the pair, the All Blacks is the ultimate goal, and always has been.
‘The Māori All Blacks is obviously also a goal. It is the culture of that team too having been brought up Māori, with the language and the culture side of it. That would make it pretty special playing in the Māori jersey.’
Tenniswood seemingly targeted the young woman (pictured), who Prosecutor Chris Donnellan said was in a ‘paralytic state’ and grabbed her arm possessively before taking her home
He recently returned home to New Zealand from France to try his hand at following in his father’s (pictured) footsteps