Cipriani: RPA to take on RFU

REACTION: The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) in England does not support the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) decision to charge Danny Cipriani after his arrest in Jersey last week.

The Gloucester and England star was charged with ‘conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game’ by the RFU after pleading guilty to common assault and resisting arrest.

Cipriani was fined £2,000 ($2 500) in court and ordered to pay £250 compensation to a policewoman for an incident in a nightclub in Jersey where Gloucester were on a pre-season tour.

On Monday, Gloucester held a Disciplinary Hearing to review the events of last week and the club fined Cipriani £2 000.

The RPA believes it is unnecessary for the RFU to conduct their own disciplinary procedures against the player.

“The RPA was surprised to learn the RFU had charged Danny Cipriani with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game contrary to RFU Rule 5.12,”the RPA said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Given that it related to an off-field, non-rugby related incident that occurred on club time, and had already been dealt with by the Jersey courts, we believe that it was appropriate for the matter to be dealt with by the club through its own disciplinary procedures.

“As Gloucester have now completed this process, we believe this should close the matter. We will be raising this directly with the RFU.”