Danny Cipriani to Wasps: Club make a statement as they win battle for fly-half

Heading home: Danny Cipriani is returning to the club which launched his career
(Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Chris Jones16 February 2016

Wasps today announced the return of Danny Cipriani on a reported £300,000-a-year deal from Sale.

The move confirms the club are now one of the big players in the European transfer market and also shows Cipriani’s determination to get back into the England squad as he rejected the chance to move abroad.

Wasps were heading for bankruptcy less than two years ago but a move to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry has made them one of the sport’s strongest club brands and they can compete with French giants, Toulouse, Racing Metro and Toulon for big signings.

Cipriani was a target for Toulon with Harlequins and Gloucester also interested but the 14-cap fly-half has returned to the club he joined as a teenager before making his senior debut in 2006.

New England coach Eddie Jones left Cipriani out of his 33-strong squad for the Six Nations and the 28-year-old had to stay in the Premiership to have any hope of a recall.

Cipriani also missed out on England’s World Cup squad despite impressing in his last Test, the warm-up game with France in Paris, and then had a training ground bust-up with Mike Catt, the skills coach

At Wasps, Cipriani will have to battle it out for the No10 jersey with Jimmy Gopperth and Scotland international Ruaridh Jackson.

Cipriani left Wasps to join Melbourne Rebels in 2010, returning two years later to Sale. He has spent four seasons at the Manchester club and his departure comes a time when they are starting to get England recognition with No8 Josh Beaumont close to a Test debut under Jones.

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond has constantly faced questions about moves for Cipriani and he will be very disappointed to lose a player who has helped the club push for European Champions Cup qualification. Cipriani is 27 points away from bringing up his 1,000 in Premiership matches.

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