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New arrival Danny Cipriani gets to work at the Bath training ground seven weeks after they confirmed his signing
Bath have finally been able to unveil their much anticipated new signing Danny Cipriani at their Farleigh House training ground. The fly-half signed a one-year contract with the West Country outfit on March 25 covering the end of this season and it was always scheduled to start in mid-May.
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Having been training in the interim weeks on his own, Bath have now shared a photo on social media this Wednesday of the 16-cap England international holding his new club’s shirt to confirm his arrival.
Cipriani has been out of the game for six months after abruptly ending his spell with Gloucester last December. During his time at Kingsholm, he was named the Rugby Players’ Association player of the year for 2019 after guiding the Cherry and Whites to that year’s Gallagher Premiership semi-finals.
Bath have four more games left in the Premiership this season and although their chances of making the playoffs are virtually over as they are in seventh, 18 points adrift of fourth place Harlequins, they will want to secure qualification for the Heineken Champions Cup next season by finishing in the top eight.
Cipriani will be filling the void that will be left at Bath by Rhys Priestland next season, who is set to join Cardiff Blues after six years at The Rec. This will also be Cipriani’s fourth club in England and he enjoyed stints with Wasps and Sale Sharks before joining Gloucester.
Good to have you with us, @DannyCipriani87! ?#WeAreBath ??? pic.twitter.com/bPJPqDpgEA
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) May 12, 2021
“Bath have a clear ambition and drive that aligns with my own,” said the 33-year-old after his signing. “They want to achieve something special as a team, they want to win. That was a very appealing vision for me. I have been really focused over the past three months on improving my running efficiency and kicking while looking for a club that matches my ambition.
“It’s clear that Bath offers that opportunity. We talked about what I could bring to the club and what Bath were looking for in a fly-half – someone who could be part of an attacking mindset, who could help unlock that aspect of the game and inject additional pace and vision – complementing the quality in the team.”
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Four red cards in their last four Premiership games have ruined Bath's hopes of returning to the semi-finals https://t.co/uBR0P6cYId
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 12, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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