Cipriani to leave Wasps for Melbourne Rebels

The fly-half will join the fledgling Super 15 outfit next season, ruling himself out of any future England call-up.

Danny Cipriani will quit Wasps at the end of this season and join the newly-formed Australian team Melbourne Rebels. The England international fly-half has agreed terms with the fledgling Super 15 outfit, ending speculation about his immediate playing future. It means Cipriani, 22, who has won seven caps, has put his Test career on hold in pursuit of a new career Down Under. Wasps, though, say a return to them in the future has already been discussed. "I have been given no indication that I am pushing for a place with England at the moment, so it is up to me to ensure I am in contention in the future by challenging myself in new realms," Cipriani said.

"I have some of the best coaches and players in the game around me at Wasps, which is why it has been so hard to make my decision, but I am still young enough to go away and experience something completely different. "I want to be the best player I can be, and this is a huge challenge and opportunity to test myself, on and off the pitch, because it will be changing everything I know. "Leaving Wasps is very hard. This is my home, I have played here since I was 15. "I see this move as the next step in my career and would never rule out coming back to play in England. "If I did, the first place I would look at is Wasps, and we have already talked about that as a possibility for the future.

"I believe in the coaches and the players here and it will be very difficult to leave, but the decision has been made easier by having the support of [rugby director] Tony Hanks and [head coach] Shaun Edwards." * PA Sport