* Cipriani leaves midway through Super Rugby season
* Decision endorsed by club, local media say
(Adds details)
MELBOURNE, April 30 (Reuters) – Former England flyhalf Danny
Cipriani has left the Melbourne Rebels midway through the Super
Rugby season, local media reported on Monday.
The Rebels were not immediately able to confirm the
departure of the 24-year-old, who was on a two-year deal with
the club which was set to expire this year.
Cipriani was due to return to England at the end of the
season after signing a three-year deal with the Sale Sharks in
March in a bid to revive his international career.
The seven-test flyhalf joined the foundation Rebels side
last year as a marquee player, citing hopes of a fresh start
away from the media glare in England, but was soon under the
spotlight in Australia for breaching team discipline on a number
of occasions.
Cipriani landed himself in hot water last year for taking a
bottle of vodka from the bar of a local nightspot without paying
for it and was later stood down for a month for breaching team
curfews and failing to turn up to training.
He pledged to see out his contract with the Rebels last year
and despite no further reports of off-field problems, has
struggled for form this year in a new-look side boasting
Wallabies recruits Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor.
Reports said Cipriani’s early departure had been approved by
the club and was not related to any further discipline breach.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by John O’Brien/Peter
Rutherford)
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