Melbourne Rebels players Danny Cipriani and Richard Kingi have agreed to stand down f

[travelling_gerry]

AAP May 03, 2011 6:09PM

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Nothing to smile about ... Danny Cipriani is in trouble again Source: Ellen Smith / AAP
Melbourne Rebels players Danny Cipriani and Richard Kingi have agreed to stand down from Saturday's game against the Queensland Reds.


Rebels chief executive Ross Oakley said the pair had failed to uphold an agreement made by the players following Saturday night's game against the Waratahs.

"Both players defied a team directive to abstain from staying out late on Saturday night, given the six-day break ahead of our next game," Oakley said.

"The club fully supports the decision of our Player Standards Group."

It's not England import Cipriani's first offence, having been fined by the club for a nightclub incident in February.

On that occasion, the star five-eighth was fined one match payment after fronting the Rebels' players standards group for helping himself to a bottle of vodka from a Melbourne nightclub.



"We have taken this action due to a breach of team protocol," Rebels club captain Tim Davidson said.

"We are very protective of our standards and we are disappointed that these players have put themselves before the team."

Speculation has been mounting for some time that Cipriani will not be in Melbourne beyond the 2011 Super Rugby season.

The Rebels have already secured Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale for next season and are eyeing off young Australian winger James O'Connor.

Both players have played at pivot for their Super Rugby sides.

Cipriani, an England international who has fallen out of favour with national coach Martin Johnson partly because of his antics off the field, has been linked to a number of clubs in Europe.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226049323973

[Sheikh]

Cipriani - complete tool!

Maybe Toulon's come calling and he wants the sack. (Read somewhere that they were considering a short-term contract for him because so many of their stars will be at the World Cup, which is mid-season in the NH leagues, and they don't stop playing.)

[zed]

DC has 10 X more talent than Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood put together, shame it's going to waste. He'll just be another one of those players that "could have been a contender".

[palitu]

DC has 10 X more talent than Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood put together, shame it's going to waste. He'll just be another one of those players that "could have been a contender".

what make JW great is that he can play all facets of the game. he can pass, kick, set kick, and the kicker...

he has GREAT defence

QED

[JediKnight]

DC has 10 X more talent than Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood put together, shame it's going to waste. He'll just be another one of those players that "could have been a contender".

This statement is correct.....but the "DC" to which Zed refers is not the one this story is about.....it must surely be Dan Carter!!!

[zed]

what make JW great is that he can play all facets of the game. he can pass, kick, set kick, and the kicker...

he has GREAT defence

QED

I agree. His work rate is enormous and he's certainly an inspiration for kids.

[Sheikh]

DC has 10 X more talent than Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood put together, shame it's going to waste. He'll just be another one of those players that "could have been a contender".

Just proves that talent alone doesn't cut it. Wilkinson and Flood both have terrific work ethics.