Cipriani backed to breathe life into Bath attack and revive Premiership career
Danny Cipriani is to resume his Premiership career by joining Bath. The former England fly-half, who left Gloucester in December, has signed a deal that starts in May and runs for the 2021-22 season.
The 33-year-old has spent the past three months working on improving his running efficiency and kicking. He hopes he can “inject additional pace and vision – complementing the quality in the team” at Bath.
Cipriani will replace Rhys Priestland, who is returning to Wales to join Cardiff Blues. It means Cipriani will compete for the No10 shirt alongside Tian Schoeman and talented prospect Orlando Bailey. Bath will be without veteran Priestland for the next couple of weeks due to a leg injury.
Stuart Hooper, the Bath director of rugby, said: “Danny’s abilities are evident; his game understanding and management are exceptional, as is his skill set in the back line. He has a real eye for detail around the attacking shape. I’m confident that he will bring an exciting dimension to our game.”
Charlie Ewels, the Bath captain, suggested that Cipriani should not be prejudged on reputation, having toured with him with England Saxons in 2016.
“When you’re younger, you hear all these stories about other players. I’d heard a lot of stories about Gavin Henson before he showed up [at
Bath]. Then I met Gav and it completely changed my opinion of him,” Ewels explained.
“What you can hear about lads before you work with them can be very different. On that tour, I was 21, but he was brilliant and he was good to me. I learnt a lot from him. You can hear the stories or read what’s written in the paper but, until I’ve been with someone day in, day out, that’s when I’ll form my opinion. I think Danny is a good pro.” Meanwhile, Mateo Carreras, the Newcastle wing, has been given a nine-week suspension for making intentional contact with the eye area of Wasps back Josh Bassett. Carreras accepted the charge for the incident, which occurred in his side’s 20-18 Premiership defeat last Friday, at an independent disciplinary hearing. The Argentine will be free to play on June 15, depending on Newcastle’s progress in the Challenge Cup.
“The player’s evidence was that he had intended to ‘irritate’ the Wasps player, but that he had not intended to cause any harm in his action,” the panel said. “He accepted, on reflection, that by making contact with the eye of Josh Bassett he risked causing serious injury, though this was a momentary action without thought for the consequences.” Carreras’s offence was considered mid-range, carrying a sanction of 18 weeks, which was halved on mitigation grounds.