Super Rugby
Cipriani stood down by Rebels
ESPNscrum Staff
May 3, 2011
Melbourne Rebels fly-half Danny Cipriani offloads, Melbourne Rebels training session, Visy Park, Melbourne, Australia, April 12, 2011
Danny Cipriani has been stood down by the Rebels © Getty Images
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Danny Cipriani has been stood down by the Melbourne Rebels following a second breach of team protocol.

The former England playmaker and scrum-half Richard Kingi will miss this weekend's Super Rugby clash with the Reds after falling foul of the franchise's Players Standard Group.

Cipriani and Kingi failed to uphold a team ruling that there should be no nights out in the wake of their loss to the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

"We have taken this action due to a breach of team protocol. We are very protective of our standards and we are disappointed that these players have put themselves before the team," club captain Tim Davidson said.

Rebels CEO Ross Oakley added, "Both players defied a team directive to abstain from staying out late on Saturday night, given the six day break ahead of our next game. The club fully supports the decision of our Player Standards Group."

Cipriani was in trouble earlier in the season after being warned for taking a bottle of alcohol from a nightclub and was this week linked with a short-term move to Top 14 big-spenders Toulon.

The 23-year-old's representative Emanuele Palladino commented, "'Danny deeply regrets his behaviour and is as disappointed in himself as anyone. These are not the headlines he wants to attract. He wants to draw a line under this now and get on with what he does best, which is playing rugby."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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