It’s always sad to say goodbye to someone of Danny’s quality
GLOUCESTER head coach George Skivington claims there has been no fall-out between him and star man Danny Cipriani, who has been released from his contract at the club.
In 2018/19, Cipriani was named RPA Players’ Player of the Year, but now finds himself a free agent having been released by the Cherry and Whites on Tuesday having not played for the club since November 21 when he had a poor display in a 38-15 defeat to Leicester Tigers.
Skivington denied there was any financial motivation to letting go arguably his best player, when on form, after four games of the 2020/21 season in which Gloucester have won just once, with shallow depth at fly-half.
He must now rely on Lloyd Evans, 25, and George Barton, 20, for the next couple of months, with versatile centre Billy Twelvetrees, 32, sidelined with an ankle injury and the head coach stating he is not planning to dip into the transfer market again.
Within an hour of announcing Cipriani’s departure, Gloucester did confirm the signing of Scottish international stand-off Adam Hastings, but the 24-year-old, who is currently out with a serious shoulder injury anyway, will not arrive from Glasgow Warriors until next season.
Asked why he has allowed Cipriani to leave with at least 23 games remaining this season, Skivington explained: “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.”
England international fly-half Cipriani joined Gloucester from Wasps in 2018, but has cut his stay short. “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.
“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 inhouse 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 fallout 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 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.
It remains to be seen where Cipriani, who won the last of his 16 England caps two years ago, heads to next, but it would be no surprise if an offer from the lucrative playing markets of the Japanese Top League, MLR of America or the French Top 14 came his way.
Skivington confirmed there was also nothing stopping him signing for a British club, with Cipriani getting engaged to his partner Victoria Rose in the summer.
When a player wants to move on, there is no point trying to keep them
George Skivington