Cippy’s on hippy trail to fitness

WHILE his England teammates were busting a gut to prepare for the World Cup, Danny Cipriani took himself off to a hippy-style retreat in Malibu to fall back in love with rugby.

A lazy holiday in the millionaires’ surfers paradise wasn’t on the agenda as he looked to get over the disappointment of being dumped by England coach Eddie Jones.

Instead, the Gloucester fly-half (below) linked up with former surfer Laird Hamilton, who made his name riding the biggest waves and is now a health and fitness leader to the rich and famous.

The 31-year-old said: “I went training with Laird and he takes us through everything, things like weights underwater and breathing techniques.

“It can help with your fitness and can simulate being at altitude. It’s a powerful meditation, makes you feel energised.

“Gloucester giving me the extra time off helped me clear my mind and get away from it because I think the off-season is too short for what we get paid and put our bodies through.

“I needed to break away from it and I got to choose to love it (rugby) again.

“Four weeks into my stint in Malibu I started missing the boys a lot and that is a good sign for me.”

Cipriani was left out of Jones’ 31-man squad for the World Cup, despite sweeping the board at the domestic end-of-season awards in May.

Next Saturday, England will be lining up against Wales or Australia with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake.

But Cipriani seen as the most talented player of his generation not to play in a World Cup will face former club Sale Sharks in Salford when the Premiership season kicks off.

“For me not to get picked in a game of rugby isn’t that bigger deal, is it?

“It’s not life or death – it’s just your ego that gets battered.”