Cipriani defends Rebels move

Wasps fly-half says money was not motivating factor

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 28th April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cipriani defends Rebels move

Cipriani: Believes salary cap should go

The reason I went was for my rugby reasons and to play in the Super 14.

Danny Cipriani
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Danny Cipriani insists the Guinness Premiership salary cap did not influence his decision to move to Melbourne Rebels for the new season.

The Wasps fly-half has signed a lucrative contract with the new Australian club and will compete in the expanded Super 15 competition next term, putting his international career on hold.

But the 22-year-old is adamant the improved salary was not a deciding factor in him penning the new deal.

"The reason I went was for my rugby reasons and to play in the Super 14," Cipriani told Sky Sports.

"As anyone knows who watches it, it's so exciting to watch.

"It was one of the first competitions and Wellington Hurricanes was one of the first teams I ever supported, so I'm just so looking forward to playing in that competition and learning as much as I can."

Abolish

Cipriani admits abolishing the salary cap could help keep home-grown players in English rugby, conceding there are players who will move abroad in search of bigger pay-checks if the cap remains.

"Personally I don't think there should be a salary cap at all," he added.

"But that's my opinion because there are some players that are leaving the country to go to France and earn a hell of a lot more money because they have it out there and that's why the competition out there is so big.

"There is something that needs to be done to improve things but I think those measures are going to be taken.

"I think (Mark) McCafferty (Premier Rugby chief executive) has mentioned a few things they're thinking about doing, so it's all on the up."

Comments (1)

  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Patrick Smalley says...

Not going for the money oh yeah ? Cipriani has realised he is not (yet anyway) quite the big number the press made him believe. I also fear the super 14 will be tough on him, we'll see. He gets it dead right concerning the cap, exposing our clubs to another case of unfair restrictions. Top clubs are expected to play big league games with 5-10 players away on international duty and the cap limits adequate replacements. We have a professional game with very amateur administration which appears hell bent on levelling league by pulling out the teeth of the top clubs. Can't work won't work. Even money there will soon be a call from the clubs to run their own league. The sooner the better.

Posted 08:22 5th May 2010
  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private