Melbourne Rebel Cipriani hit with one-game ban
ENGLAND outcast Danny Cipriani has accepted his punishment of a one-match ban for breaking a curfew imposed by his Melbourne Rebels team-mates.
Cipriani, 23, who won the last of his seven international caps three years ago, and scrum-half Richard Kingi defied an agreement to avoid a late night after Saturday’s 28-9 defeat by the New South Wales Waratahs.
“We have taken this action due to a breach of team protocol,” said club captain Tim Davidson. “We are very protective of our standards and we are disappointed that these players have put themselves before the team.”
Chief executive officer Ross Oakley added: “Both players defied a team directive to abstain from staying out late on Saturday night, given the six-day break ahead of our next game. The club supports the decision of our Player Standards Group.”
It is not the first off-field indiscretion to have undermined Cipriani’s attempts to regain his England berth since his move to the Super 15 franchise. Back in February he was fined by the Rebels for an incident in a nightclub.