Danny Cipriani’s future in Melbourne looks extremely shaky after the Rebels omitted the former England star from a 26-man squad for a two-game Super Rugby tour of South Africa.
The club on Sunday released a brief statement saying that while the Rebels were playing the Bulls in Pretoria and Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, Cipriani would be in Melbourne training with the non-touring players.
The talented-but-troubled playmaker was stood down from last Friday’s loss to Queensland along with teammate Richard Kingi after ignoring a team directive with a late night out after their loss to the NSW Waratahs in Sydney six days earlier.
Kingi has been recalled for the South Africa trip, but Cipriani’s teammates have seemingly lost confidence in their English import, leaving his future with the Rebels uncertain.
“Following meetings yesterday between the Rebels players, coaches and management, it has been decided that Danny Cipriani will not travel to South Africa,” the Rebels’ statement said.
“Danny will train with the other non-touring players over the next two weeks and will continue his community engagement with local clubs and schools during this time.”
Cipriani was in trouble earlier in his stay with the competition newcomers, fined by the club for a nightclub incident in February.
On that occasion, the star five-eighth was fined one match payment after fronting the Rebels’ players standards group for helping himself to a bottle of vodka from a Melbourne nightclub.
Rebels coach Rod Macqueen was tightlipped when asked on Sunday if he could shed any further light on the Cipriani situation.
“I’m just focused on the games in South Africa,” he told AAP.
“I don’t want to comment on anything regarding Danny Cipriani.”
Rebels squad for South Africa tour: Nic Henderson, Rodney Blake, Greg Somerville, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Heath Tessmann, Alister Campbell, Kevin O’Neill, Hugh Pyle, Hoani Macdonald, Tim Davidson, Luke Jones, Michael Lipman, Gareth Delve, Jarrod Saffy, Richard Kingi, Nick Phipps, James Hilgendorf, Julian Huxley, Stirling Mortlock, Mark Gerrard, Peter Betham, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Lachlan Mitchell, Luke Rooney, Cooper Vuna.
AndyS
Guest
That's professional sport - Rebels by name, but better not be rebels by nature. The bloke would be the life of an amateur team and, the way he is heading, that looks to be his future. What a knob!
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Well said VC the light has been switched on. And to think that I thought that big lumpy bloke Martin Johnson was a big meanie. I should have known better.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Golly! And to think that some credulous Roarers would have had us believe that Cipriani's travails in England were all the fault of big beastly Martin Johnson and innate English conservatism!
Brett McKay
Guest
just out of interests sake, if we re-read this tale and replace 'Rebels' with 'Brumbies', and 'Danny Cipriani' with 'Andy Friend', should alarm bells be going off or not??
Who Needs Melon
Guest
I'm not sure about the "welcomed back with open arms" bit but you're right - this stint down south could have been a hugely positive experience for him - a bit of a clean start leaving some baggage behind, playing with and against some different styles, etc. Instead he seems to be inking in the "AVOID" stamp that was already heavily pencilled across his forehead.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
The writing may be on the wall for Cipriani. How foolish is this young man if he had put his head down for the duration of his time with the Rebels I'm sure he would have been welcomed back with open arms to the England side. Now he will have buckleys and none of being in the England side in the future. He might be able to get a gong in France next year or the next but time is running out for this young man and the opportunity can only last so long. Won't be long before teams will not want him and then the money and good times will run out. Then he might have to get a job, heaven forbid!!!!