News in Brief
Cipriani safely back in action
Scrum.com
December 8, 2009
Danny Cipriani played 40 minutes for Wasps 'A' on Monday
© Getty Images
- Danny Cipriani played 40 minutes for Wasps 'A' in his comeback from a broken leg on Monday night. Wasps lost the game against Harlequins at Henley 27-13 but the 22-year-old was just pleased to be back on the field. He could now be in line for a first-team return against Bayonne in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday.
"It is good to get back," Cipriani told Sky Sports News. "After the first four weeks healing the bone it gets a bit frustrating. Then you start training and you are in the gym for four weeks every single day and it gets a bit more frustrating, but you just have to get back."
- A chronic back injury has forced NSW Waratah and former Wallaby Scott Fava to announce his immediate retirement from professional rugby.
Fava, 33, has five Test caps and was the first man to play for all four Australia Super Rugby clubs. He was due to play his second of two seasons with the Waratahs in 2010.
"It's been really hard being on the sidelines for so long, working so hard to get back but not seeing much progress," Fava said. "Over the last few months it's become clearer that I won't be able to get my body back to the point where it needs to be to play professional rugby and so I've come to the decision to retire from the game.
"It's not a decision that I've taken lightly, but at the end of the day I need to make sure I can lead a normal life post-football both professionally and for my family."
- Perpignan will face Munster at Thomond Park on Friday shorn of fullback Julien Candelon after it was confirmed that he requires surgery on a wrist injury. The former French international is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.
- Bath wing Matt Banahan has been called before an RFU Disciplinary Panel following his sending-off against Northampton on Saturday. Banahan has been charged with stamping on Saints fly-half Stephen Myler and will have his case heard on December 9.
- Leicester Tigers duo Sam Vesty and Harry Ellis made a successful return from injury in a development XV game against Sale on Monday night. Vesty kicked eight points in a 33-25 victory while Ellis was composed at scrum-half before being replaced. Centre Billy Twelvetrees also returned in the game after six weeks out with an ankle problem.
- Racing Metro scrum-half Mathieu Loree has been suspended until further notice after admitting to smoking marijuana ahead of his side's Top 14 derby with Stade Francais last month.
- Western Province wing Sireli Naqelevuki could feature for Fiji at the George Sevens this weekend following injuries to Seremaia Burotu and Niumaia Cakacaka. The giant wing endured a mixed Currie Cup campaign and was at fault for the high-tackle that cost his side a place in the final. Fiji lost to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Dubai Sevens last weekend.
- Otago midfielder Michael Witt will return to rugby league after signing a deal with Welsh club Crusaders. Witt joined the New Zealand Warriors in 2007 from Manly but was told he was surplus to requirements at the beginning of the 2009 season. He joined the Taieri rugby club at Mosgiel, near Dunedin, in March , saying at the time he was aiming for All Blacks honours. He went on to play seven games for Otago in the Air NZ Cup this season, six of them as a substitute.
© Scrum.com
1. Max Verstappen ()
