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Free agent Cipriani admits he 'might never play again'

Danny Cipriani of Barbarians during the friendly match between Northampton Saints and Barbarians at Franklin's Gardens on November 26, 2022 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for Barbarians)

Former England flyhalf Danny Cipriani says despite being physically in the best shape of his life, he might never play another professional game.

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Capped 16 times for England over the span of a decade, the headline-grabbing Cipriani says he could have played his last game of rugby union or could have ‘his best rugby’ ahead of him.

Cipriani left his Bath contract early at the end of last season and was fated to take up a new deal overseas, a scenario which never materialised. His most recent outing was with Barbarians during the November Test window but things have been relatively quiet in the two months since he featured for the invitational side.

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Danny Cipriani on RFU rule changes, his dream next club & paparazzi madness | RugbyPass Offload

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Danny Cipriani on RFU rule changes, his dream next club & paparazzi madness | RugbyPass Offload

“There’s no on the horizon at the minute,” Cipriani told the RugbyPass Offload Podcast. “I’m just keeping it fit and enjoying my training.

“I think the best part at the moment is your whole career you’re told how to train, what to do, and so on and so. I’m away from that, I’ve enjoyed my fitness, my movement more than ever. It’s really enjoyable. Playing lots of football.”

The former Wasps, Melbourne Rebels, Sale Sharks, Gloucester and Bath star also revealed he is doing informal training sessions with England great Jonny Wilkinson.

The former teenage phenom, who is currently open to offers but apparently satisfied with his lot in life at the moment, was asked which team he’d join if given a choice of any professional outfit. He chose Ronan O’Gara’s Top 14 giants, La Rochelle.

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“Right now? La Rochelle maybe,” said Cipriani. “[Ronan O’Gara] As a player, wasn’t the most expressive player, but he’s transformed himself. He’s now a student of the game. Knows the ins and out of the game, he coaches in a way that brings that freedom of expression, that allows the boys to go and do it and he does it in a foreign country.

“He’s obviously doing it to a high level.”

The conversation turned to the Gallagher Premiership and who he could potentially play for, although he refused to be drawn on any specific club.

“I like Pat Lam (Bristol Bears’ director of rugby), I know it’s his way or the highway. I know he’s a great guy.

“I think Quins play in a good way.

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“For a coach to sign me they feel like I’m going to come in and change things. That’s what I was like and that’s what I was doing, but what I could add and what I could bring is so different now.

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“I also feel my best rugby could be in front of me,” said the 35-year-old. “Or I might never play again. And physically, I feel world-class.

Cipriani revealed that he and England great Wilkinson meet weekly to train informally and

“I kick and mess about. I shoot basketball once a week with Jonny Wilkinson. We did kicking a couple of days ago… He’s an exceptional human. We talk about life man.

“We do kicking together. I really enjoy it a lot. I get a lot out of it.”

 

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J
JW 22 minutes ago
Crusaders outlast fast starting Blues to reach another Super Rugby final

Yeah nar, but that’s kinda the thing, I don’t think the old approach was working either!


You might have it right though, leading up, in all rugby/competitions mean, to the last WC it did feel like there had been better discipline/less than the normal amount of cards. Well, at least a certain demographic of teams improved at least, but not so much NZ ones is my point.


I bet you also think going harsher would be the best way to go reducing head contact and the frequency of concussions?


I would hate to have your theory tested as it requires subjective thinking from the officials but..

AI Overview

In Super Rugby Pacific, a red card means the player is sent off for the rest of the match, but with a 20-minute red card, the team can replace the player after 20 minutes of playing with 14 men. If the foul play is deemed deliberate and with a high degree of danger, a full red card is issued, and the player cannot be replaced. A second yellow card also results in a 20-minute red card with a replacement allowed. 

is there to stop that from happening. The whole subjective thing is why we have 20min cards, and I worry that the same leniency that stopped them from red carding a player who ran 30 meters and still didn’t get his head low enough would stop them straight redn them too.


Back to the real topic though, right after that WC we saw those same angles getting red carded all over the show. So do some players actually have control over their actions enough to avoid head collisions (and didn’t gaf after the WC?), or was it pure luck or an imaginary period of good discipline?


So without a crystal ball to know the truth of it I think you’ll find it an immeasurably better product with 20m red cards, there just does not appear to be any appropriate amount of discipline added to the back end, the suspensions (likely controlled by WR), yet.

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