Danny Cipriani has turned in a string of impressive performances for the Rebels since arriving 'Down Under' © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Kurtley Beale | Danny Cipriani | James O'Connor

Teams: Australia | England | Force | Melbourne Rebels | Rebels

Danny Cipriani insists that he has no intention of quitting the Melbourne Rebels at the end of the season despite rumours that the franchise has already signed James O'Connor to replace him.

Former London Wasps No.10 Cipriani has impressed in his first season in Super Rugby and is under contract until the end of the 2012 campaign. However, it has been widely reported that he is keen to return to England at the end of the year, with France also being mooted as a possible destination for the player.

There has also been mounting speculation that the Rebels will imminently announce the signing of Western Force starlet O'Connor, who would be an obvious rival for Cipriani's preferred position of fly-half. However, the former England international is adamant that he is going nowhere.

"I signed a two-year deal when I initially signed and I'm happy with the situation I'm in right now," Cipriani told The Australian. "I'm enjoying my time here, enjoying the season. We're going really well and I'd like to see us keep improving and moving forward."

Cipriani's commitment to staying in Australia was further underlined after Sydney club Warringah announced that the England international would be joining them for the Super Rugby off season - in a deal that will net him a maximum of just AUS $3000.

Cipriani will earn match payments only for his participation in the last 12 rounds of the Shute Shield, with AUS $200 awarded to each player for a win and AUS $50 for a loss or draw.

"If we started talking to him about dollars it would have been embarrassing," club president Mike Sheeran told The Manly Daily. "He's coming up for the lifestyle. We just don't have the money to offer him anything else."

Sheeran said Cipriani agreed to join the club after striking-up a friendship with Melbourne-based Warringah pair Luke Holmes and Mark Gerrard. Rats coach Sam Harris said: "We're excited about Cipriani coming. "It's not like we've gone out and chased a player - he's become really close with Luke Holmes and the other Warringah boys at Melbourne. They just got him to join."

Cipriani admitted that he initially struggled to settle 'Down Under' but that he is now reveling in his new environs.

"At the beginning it was a tough start to be away from home and your family and friends," Cipriani said. "But the Rebels really embraced me and took me in and I felt like one of them.

"I came out here to rediscover my love for the game because I was really close to not playing it for very much longer last year. And it's done everything I wanted it to do. I'm loving rugby again and playing with a smile on my face."

O'Connor, meanwhile, has rejected claims that his defection to the Rebels will be confirmed on Monday, with the Australia international commenting on Twitter: "Interesting - only headlines expecting on Monday is big win for the Force ;) reports not right!"