Super Rugby
Cipriani excluded from Rebels tour
ESPNscrum Staff
May 8, 2011
Melbourne Rebels fly-half Danny Cipriani offloads, Melbourne Rebels training session, Visy Park, Melbourne, Australia, April 12, 2011
Danny Cipriani will not tour with the Rebels © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Danny Cipriani | Richard Kingi
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Danny Cipriani has been excluded from the Melbourne Rebels squad for their two-match South African tour.

Having been stood down for Friday's loss to the Queensland Reds due to a second disciplinary breach, the fly-half has now been dropped from the 26-strong squad to take on the Bulls in Pretoria and the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein over the next two weeks.

The 23-year-old has had a troubled debut season for the new team and amid criticism of his defence, he fell foul of the franchise's Players Standards Group for the second time last week after staying out late following a defeat by New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.

The Rebels announced in a statement: "Following meetings yesterday between the Rebels players, coaches and management, it has been decided that Danny Cipriani will not travel to South Africa.

"Danny will train with the other non-touring players over the next two weeks and will continue his community engagement with local clubs and schools during this time."

Richard Kingi, who also missed the Queensland match because of the incident in Sydney, was named in the squad for the trip to South Africa.

Cipriani, who was also fined by the Rebels in February following another late-night excursion to a Melbourne nightclub, had moved to Australia following a chequered career with Wasps and England.

Rebels boss Rod Macqueen would not be drawn on the playmaker's future at the franchise. "I'm just focused on the games in South Africa," he told AAP. "I don't want to comment on anything regarding Danny Cipriani."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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