England fly-half Danny Cipriani to face RFU disciplinary hearing after nightclub incident

Duncan Bech 18:53 21/08/2018
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  • Danny Cipriani will face a disciplinary hearing in Bristol on Wednesday after being charged by the Rugby Football Union.

    The RFU announced that Cipriani’s case will be dealt with by an independent three-strong panel.

    The England and Gloucester fly-half has been charged with “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.” He could face a fine and/or ban if the complaint is upheld.

    But the fall-out continued on Tuesday from that decision, with the Rugby Players’ Association saying it will liaise with the RFU over the charge levied towards Cipriani, believing his £2,000 fine from club Gloucester “should close the matter.”

    Cipriani was last week fined £2,000 by Jersey Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to charges of common assault and resisting arrest following a nightclub incident that took place on Gloucester’s pre-season tour.

    His club also fined him £2,000 after a hearing on Monday, but Gloucester are furious with the RFU, claiming the governing body acted only in response to publicity generated by last week’s events.

    Gloucester chief executive Stephen Vaughan expressed the Gallagher Premiership club’s view of the RFU stance, stating: “We are surprised and extremely disappointed.

    “There is no historic precedent of a player being singled out in this manner, and we feel that this disciplinary process has been influenced by the significant media coverage of the events and other external factors.”

    The RPA, meanwhile, said it “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 statement added: “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.”

    The RFU did not address the RPA’s concerns in their statement announcing Cipriani’s hearing details.

    “In light of his conviction for common assault and resisting arrest, Danny Cipriani was on Friday charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game contrary to RFU Rule 5.12,” the RFU said.

    “Cipriani’s hearing in front of an independent disciplinary panel will take place in Bristol on Wednesday 22 August at 1830.

    “The panel will be chaired by Gareth Graham, with Mike Curling and Olly Kohn.”

    Graham is a barrister, while former RFU Council member Curling has years of experience sitting on disciplinary panels and ex-Bristol and Harlequins lock Kohn, who won one cap for Wales, became a disciplinary panellist last year.

    Cipriani made his first England start in a decade in the third Test against South Africa two months ago. He has yet to play a competitive game for his new club after joining them from Wasps.

    Gloucester play the Dragons in a pre-season friendly at Kingsholm on Thursday, while their opening Premiership game of the new campaign is at home to Northampton on September 1.

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