Danny Cipriani has joined the ranks of former England stars criticizing Eddie Jones, claiming the Australian coach overlooked him at the Test level because he "couldn’t be bullied" by Jones. Cipriani is set to return to the rugby field this weekend for the inaugural 745 Game, a cross-code hybrid match that brings together some of the biggest names from rugby union and league to raise funds for those living with motor neurone disease. The event, to be held at Headingley, was conceptualized by Rob Burrow and Ed Slater before Burrow's passing earlier this year.
Cipriani, who has retired from rugby and now resides in America, asserts that supporting Slater is the sole reason he would consider donning his rugby boots again. The 37-year-old, often regarded as one of the most talented attacking players of his era, was capped only twice under Jones and was excluded from the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad. He expressed no surprise at recent criticism of Jones by another former teammate, Danny Care, given his own experiences with the coach.
Cipriani stated, "My experiences with Eddie are that he probably felt I would stand up to him too much and he didn’t feel like he could bully me so he didn’t bring me into the environment." He added, "With Eddie, you guys saw how he spoke to you and the media. I’m not here to bash Eddie as an individual but he’s not someone I’d want to lead my country because of the way he carries himself." Cipriani also expressed compassion for Jones, suggesting that the coach's behavior might be a reflection of his own unhappiness and the only approach he knows.
Cipriani will be a key player in the 745 Game on Sunday, which will feature a distinctive set of cross-code rules and aims to raise significant funds for MND. He believes the match will be "historic" and credits his former Gloucester teammate Slater for convincing him to play again. "I’m more than fit enough to play professional rugby right now," Cipriani said. "But there’s nobody who could pay me enough money to do it because of all the squabbling that goes with it. The only reason I’d put my boots on was for Ed, to come back and play on a day which will go down in history." He also expressed his excitement at participating in a rugby league game, honoring three men—Ed, Rob, and Doddie—who have made significant contributions to the sport.
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