English Premiership
Cipriani supports Wasps change
Scrum.com
December 3, 2008
Danny Cipriani of London Wasps looks to off load, London Wasps v Bath, Guinness Premiership, Adams Park, October 1, 2008
Wasps star Danny Cipriani has backed the new ownership set-up at the club © Getty Images
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England and Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani has outlined his desire to stay with Wasps when his contract expires at the end of the season. Wasps are entering into a new era with owner Steve Hayes, who assumed ownership earlier today. Hayes will be keen to hang on to young stars like Cipriani and flanker James Haskell, who is also out of contract soon.

Hayes has already signalled his intention to hang on to his big-name players, and Cipriani is all ears. "I would like to stay at Wasps and have my future here. I've just got to know about the players who are going to stay around as well," he said. "You want to make sure that you have all the young players and you have all the talented players coming through together and staying on.

"I think Steve is going to try and get all the contracts done as a whole team. Everyone has got that bit of uncertainty above their heads so its good that everyone knows where they are going.

"Wasps is such a great club. Ideally, I would like to stay at Wasps and get the whole structure in place and get everything right. It is a unique place with the values to win. There are some of the best coaches in the world here and their winning mentality rubs off on the younger players.

"I have been here for two seasons now and we have won two trophies. Winning trophies is what it is all about. It is the best feeling. The key is to keep this squad together that has been successful. Steve Hayes is a top guy who I think will be good for the club," said Cipriani.

Former Wasps and England legend Lawrence Dallaglio has joined Wasps' Board of Directors and will oversee the nurturing and identification of young talent. Dallaglio will be trying to instill values in the young players, while also guarding against big-money offers that Wasps will not be able to match.

"You make decisions in rugby on what you feel your priorities are," said Dallaglio. "If players are purely driven by money, there are other places who will offer more. A player in the modern age has to think about more than money.

"They have to think about where they get their best rugby education and where they have the best chance of winning trophies. Despite our league position, this is still one of the very best places to win trophies.

"They have to consider what prepares them best for international rugby and there is no place that prepares them better than here. If you have the right place to thrive you can bring out the best in your talents. All the players here are in that environment and they will not necessarily find it elsewhere."

An important part of Hayes' tenure at Wasps will be the development of new playing and training facilities. "It is widely known Wasps are looking for a new ground. The most important thing is to have a council that is on board because you can't build a stadium without it. We have that at Wycombe but no other council has come forward and said: 'We want Wasps'.

"We are looking at the possibility of building on Adams Park but we need to make sure we have people coming through the gates. There is no point in building a stand only for it to be empty.

"We have done our demographics and we believe it is realistic to grow our fan-base. Buckinghamshire is one of the strongest areas in the country, especially in difficult times."

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