England five-eighth Danny Cipriani could be on his way to Australia, with Super 15 new boys Melbourne Rebels targeting a move for the talented playmaker.
Rebels coach Rod MacQueen spoke to Cipriani in London last week and although the franchise have not yet made a formal offer to the 21-year-old, who is off contract with London Wasps in May, he admitted early discussions were positive.
“We have just come back and interviewed around 25 players over there and he was one of them and we really haven’t gone any further than that, it is very early days but he was keen to hear what we had to say,” Macqueen told AAP.
“Danny is on our radar, he is a player we are looking at but we won’t be making him an offer just yet.”
The Rebels are unable to sign any Australian-based players until June, when the Super 14 season is completed.
And although Macqueen said the ruling is frustrating, the new franchise is desperate to ensure all of their recruitment is in place so they can unveil a strong line-up for the 2011 season.
“We want to sign players as soon as possible and that is not an easy thing, the sooner we can get people to sign the better,” he said.
“From our point of view we need to have everything ready and complete by then so we can be fully prepared for the new season.”
Despite having talks with a number of players in the UK, Macqueen said there is no plan to flood the team with foreign players.
“We are only looking to get a maximum of five players from overseas the rest will be Australian,” he said.
“I don’t think it is a big a deal to have a high-profile team in Melbourne, more to be successful as the public down there will always follow winners so it is important to have a team with a culture.
“Melbourne offers something a bit different … the community does back sport and it has a profile around the world and we want players to experience it.”
Cipriani, who is rated as one of the best young talents in English rugby, has fallen down the international pecking order after falling out of favour with coach Martin Johnson following a disappointing Six Nations campaign last year.
Questions marks have also been raised about his life away from the field where he is involved in a high-profile relationship with actress Kellie Brook.
Cipriani has often been in the headlines for the wrong reasons and was also dropped ahead of his Test debut in 2008 after visiting a nightclub 48 hours before a match against Scotland at Twickenham.
He was also involved in a training ground punch-up last year with former Wasps and England teammate Josh Lewsey.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
'Cipriani seems to always have been full of promise, but doesn’t seem to be able to deliver it.' He's a young man who has excelled at a very high level prior to being hit with an appalling injury. I'm not sure your analysis is apt given his age.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
Sam, Julian White and Kevin Yates.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
Actually, Ora, you might not be being sarcastic, it's hard to tell in light of how you have conducted yourself previously. I should give you the benefit of the doubt. If you're not being sarcastic then accept my apologies. I've had an extremely, extremely stressful day.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
Childish as usual. You really are dreary. I wonder why a NZ Roarer would even know about Cipriani, and I wonder why a NZ Roarer would be posting at the times you post. Very curious. Obviously nobody is suggesting that you don't actually live in the SH.
Ian Noble
Guest
I agree with VC, WW and Colin N it is an excellent move for Cips. He needs time out of the spotlight and a move to Super 15 for a minimum of two years will add some thing to his game. There is no doubt he is a talented player and playing on harder dryer pitches will suit his game. He can also play full back and when he is fit his speed off the mark is impressive. There has also been alot of rubbish written about him. He is teetotal, son of a single mother who husband left her when Cips was young. He won a place at a private school to develope his rugby skills, his mother is a taxi driver who worked long hours to help pay the fees. He was on the academy books of QPR at one time. The injury he suffered last season was more serious than people realise and he came back too early. It is only now that he beginning to play as he did before his injury. I had a similar injury playing football and it is not much fun looking down your leg and seeing your foot at right angles to the leg. The breaks mend but the ligaments and muscles are a different matter. Rehab was very painful but the ankle was never the same, still clicks when climbing stairs. Although I am a Quins fans and normally have serious questions marks about any Pests (Wasps) players, Cips has shown alot of guts and courage in his young life and he will be an asset to the Melbourne franchise. Afterall is only 22.
Joh4Canberra
Roar Rookie
Wilkinson is not -- 'ow do you say it -- "disponible" in 2011. He recently extended his contract with RC Toulon to the end of the 2010-2011 French season (June 2011).
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Cipriani wouldn't have been at the top of my list but I'm not the one who owns the team. Brock James would be my priority. Can anyone confirm this. I recently heard that the recruitment team has a budget of $10 million to sign player's. That's a little under double of the GP's salary cap of $5.5 million. If this is true it certainly will be interesting to see if the Tahs, Reds, Brumbies and Force take the leap into a PE format to keep up. Given the sums of money being thrown around for the main squad I wonder if their Academy and junior set ups will see such generous budgets.
Gatesy
Guest
As fly halfs go, you could also look at Brock James, Malone, Gower, Parks, and probably one or two others playing in Europe who are all Aussies. Cipriani seems to always have been full of promise, but doesn't seem to be able to deliver it.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
This will be a fascinating experiment. I've argued before on here that every young English back could do with a good dose of Super 14 to help develop their game. This could be the making of Cipriani.
brad
Guest
Brock James would be the best choice. He is one of the best flyhalves in Europe and possibly the best Australian flyhalf around.
MarkR
Guest
Why would they bother ? Yes he has potential but the Rebels will be shooting themselves in the foot if they rely on expensive English imports who are likely to leave after 1 or 2 seasons. If they want to build a team they need a good 10 who'll be around for more than one or two seasons.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I liked the edit function as well, and don't like the thumbs up or down.
DaMan3000
Guest
Off the topic but the edit function was brilliant! :) I hope S15 can save rugby!
Lazza
Guest
But does Danny know that no one in Melbourne will know who he is? He might think Rugby is popular across the country and may not like being anonymous? Why are the papers in England reporting that his England career might be over? Our Footballers play in England and still represent the country.
Ora
Guest
Oh so your going back through the enitrity of Super rugbys existence it seems. Well if thats the case you missed out Mils Muliaina taking a leak on the floor of a waterfront bar in Auckland that was up there.
Mr cheese
Guest
I do like his "missus", though...
Ben C
Guest
... because the ball doesn't have Sherrin on it.
Ben C
Guest
Zing!
Brett McKay
Guest
that's a fair point OJ, but I guess the benefits would be expected to come as a flow-on to his presence on the paddock. Either way, I'll believe he's serious when he wears a Rebels strip as some point..
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It would be a difficult result for Melbourne. A better result for Australian rugby would be to build another Brumbies like franchise.