Gloucester explain why Cipriani was allowed to quit Kingsholm
Gloucester head coach George Skivington says there is “no smoke or mirrors” surrounding Danny Cipriani’s departure from the Gallagher Premiership club. England international fly-half Cipriani – who joined Gloucester from Wasps in 2018 – has left Kingsholm with immediate effect.
Gloucester have moved quickly to fill the void in their squad by recruiting Scotland international Adam Hastings from Glasgow Warriors for next season (as first reported by RugbyPass on Monday night).
Cipriani said on his official Twitter account that he had made the decision “after much deliberation” and had “mixed emotions about it” but was “excited for the challenges I have ahead”.
Skivington confirmed to reporters that he had been in discussions with 33-year-old Cipriani, who has not played for Gloucester since November 21, over the last few weeks. “Danny thought it was time for a new challenge, and we fully support him in that,” Skivington said.
“We shook hands, and Danny is off to whatever his next challenge is. It is relatively easy when you have got a good relationship with someone and you can talk honestly and openly.
Cips out ? https://t.co/PkJoaVq4M2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 15, 2020
“I am pleased for Danny. He has been a great servant to the club and he can push on and challenge himself in whatever route he chooses to go down. A player of his quality is great to watch when he is in full flow. I am sure the fans will have plenty of nice messages for him, and they will appreciate what he did when he was here.
“It is a shock to everyone outside the inner circle if you like. We kept it in-house until Danny had decided exactly what he wanted to do. It is what it is, to be honest with you. There is no smoke or mirrors to it. There has been no incident or any fall-out or anything of that nature.
Skivington continued: “Someone of Danny’s quality, we all know what he can do on his day, and it’s great to watch. It would be a real shame if he didn’t take on a new challenge.
“I have known Danny for a long time. I’ve got a very good relationship with him, and we will continue to have a very good relationship. It’s always sad when you have got to say goodbye to someone of Danny’s quality in a squad, but the conversations I’ve had with Danny, I’m very comfortable this is the right thing for him to do.
“I am pleased for Danny that he’s happy and that’s the way he wants to go. The fact we could honestly talk about it is a benefit to both parties.
“When a player wants to move on and fancies a new challenge, there is no point trying to keep them at a club where it’s not necessarily for them any more because it will only cause dramas. By the last conversation, you pretty much know where it is going to be, and you have got to respect the way people feel.”
It remains to be seen where Cipriani, who won the last of his 16 England caps two years ago, heads to next after Gloucester, but it would be no surprise if an offer from the lucrative playing markets of Japan or America came his way.
Lloyd Evans was Gloucester’s starting fly-half in Premiership games against Wasps and Harlequins last month. But Evans suffered a head injury during the home defeat against Quins, and George Barton wore the No10 shirt in last weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against Lyon.
Reflecting on the signing of Hastings, meanwhile, Skivington said: “He has matured as a player impeccably over the last couple of years and developed into a top international fly-half. The most exciting part for us is that he has still got plenty of room for development as well. He has now built up a considerable amount of domestic and international experience, which will prove invaluable to the squad.”
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How news of his sudden Kingsholm departure unfolded https://t.co/4jRJwCES9k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 15, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments