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Cipriani 'hugely regrets' nightclub incident

LONDON (Reuters) - England flyhalf Danny Cipriani has said he "hugely regrets" his role in an incident at a nightclub in Jersey which left a female police officer bruised.

Cipriani 'hugely regrets' nightclub incident
(Reuters)

The 30-year-old was arrested on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to common assault and resisting arrest at Jersey magistrate's court on Thursday.

Cipriani was handed a 2,000 pound ($2,500) fine and ordered to pay 250 pounds in compensation to the officer.

"I have been in a cell for more than 24 hours thinking about what happened," Cipriani told The Times.

"I have massive admiration for the police and the job they do. I hugely regret what happened. I just want to talk to the female police officer and apologise."

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Cipriani, who started his first game for England in nearly 10 years in the third test against South Africa in June, was charged by the Rugby Football Union on Friday with "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game".

"We have high standards that we expect across the game," RFU head of discipline David Barnes said.

Cipriani has joined Gloucester from Premiership rivals Wasps and his new club's chief executive Stephen Vaughan criticised the timing of the RFU charge.

"We are surprised and extremely disappointed to have recently received notification of disciplinary action," Vaughan said in a statement.

"We do not agree with the RFU's decision to embark upon a disciplinary process before we have concluded our own internal discussions."

The altercation took place when Cipriani tried to carry drinks into the outdoor area of a bar, where he and his Gloucester team mates were having a barbecue following a pre-season match.

Police officers were called to the scene minutes later.

"The police told me they were going to arrest me on the basis of what the bouncer told them and I tried to explain my side of the story," Cipriani added.

"As they tried to put my hands behind my back, I stood my ground for a matter of a few seconds and raised my voice. I hugely regret doing so."

Cipriani has been warned by England coach Eddie Jones over his conduct following a number of off-field issues, including a training-ground fight with a Wasps team mate and a nightclub incident while playing for Australia's Melbourne Rebels in 2011.

"I have spent a long time trying to focus on the things that matter," Cipriani said.

"I fought hard to win a return to the England team and felt huge honour to represent the country in South Africa early in the summer," he added.

"What happened on Wednesday has caused much reflection. I am very grateful to the magistrate, who said that the incident was minor. But I am in no doubt that it was completely unacceptable."

(Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)


3 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



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