Cipriani is a Rebels rebel after missing team meet.
DANNY CIPRIANI has angered his new Melbourne Rebels bosses already by failing to turn up for their pre-season team conference.
The former Wasps and England fly-half has told the club he is having problems obtaining a visa, but Rebels coach Rod Macqueen says he is disappointed by his absence.
The Rebels squad assembled in Melbourne to announce the team’s naming-rights sponsor before preparing for the start of the Super Rugby season with a four-day team session.
Macqueen said: “Danny’s telling us he’s had problems with his visa. We’re working together with his management at the moment.
“There’s an issue with the visa coming out of the English side of things. That’s not to say
it probably couldn’t have been done a couple of months ago.
“We’re disappointed he’s not here. I won’t get into that at this stage. We’ve been told he’s not far off and will be here next week.”
England outcast Cipriani, 22, announced he would join the Rebels from Wasps back in February.
He has recently been keeping in shape by training with various football teams, including Premier League sides Tottenham and Fulham.
He also spent time in the United States with Major League Soccer franchise Colorado Rapids.
Irish legend Moss Keane dies, aged 62
IRISH rugby is mourning the death of legendary forward Moss Keane, who died yesterday at the age of 62.
The Kerry lock was regarded as one of Irish rugby’s great characters after making the first of his 51 caps for Ireland in France in 1974.
He went on to tour New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions three years later and became only the third player, behind Willie John McBride and Fergus Slattery to win 50 Irish caps in 1984. He was also part of the Munster side which famously beat the All Blacks in 1977.
Keane had been battling cancer for some time.