Will Cipriani Play For England Again?

Posted on 19/02/2010

Danny Cipriani has announced that he is leaving Wasps at the end of the season to join newly formed Australian side Melbourne Rebels. The talented fly-half has won seven caps for England but has not featured in a squad since autumn 2008 and has become disillusioned at failing to hold down a regular place.

Perhaps joining a Super 14 side and experiencing rugby in the southern hemisphere will prove to be a wise decision.

Cipriani has not ruled out a return to England, so will the experience make him a better player and improve his International chances in the future or will be become the forgotten man of English rugby?

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What we may start to see is the reverse situation that we currently have with Southern Hemisphere players (in particular the Kiwis).
English players could go down there to play for a couple of years following a world cup, then return to the Northern Hemisphere in time to regain their place for the next world cup. Makes sense.
At the end of the day players who aren't first choice in the national team (or even in the squad like Cipriani) will go where the money is, who can blame them?

Posted by Ben Hardwick, 11/03/2010 7:24am (5 months ago)
It will be interesting to see how Cipriani copes playing in the Southern Hemisphere, if he enjoys some success I wonder if other English players will follow in his footsteps?

Posted by Aidy , 11/03/2010 5:27am (5 months ago)
Joining the Melbourne Rebels might make Cipriani enjoy his rugby again, but he wont find a way back in to the England team until he returns.

The Super 14 (soon to be Super 15) game is too different to English test rugby, for a start it appears very few teams bother too much with defending! Best we can hope for is that he plays well, enjoys his time there then returns to an English club full of confidence.

Cipriani was never really ready for England, given time and confidence he might be.

Posted by Ben Hardwick, 10/03/2010 7:29pm (5 months ago)
If Cips can convert his obvious talent into real on-field performances then i'm sure he will play for England again. My concerns about him stem from things like 'he has become disillusioned at failing to hold down a regular place", implying that the position is his for the taking - its not, he needs to work hard to prove himself capable. It doesn't help that it appears impossible for the mainstream media and blogosphere to write or post anything about England rugby without referring to Cips.

Posted by Seismicshed, 22/02/2010 5:39am (5 months ago)

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