Danny Cipriani dodges rugby ban after five-hour RFU hearing that finishes at midnight with no further action

Cipriani had already been fined a combined £4,000 by his new club Gloucester and Jersey Magistrates for common assault and resisting arrest last week.

And while the RFU found him guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, the bungling Twickenham suits did no more as they dragged the case out against the 30-year-old.

The fly-half will now play for the Cherry and Whites against the Dragons on Thursday night.

Panel chair Gareth Graham said: “Danny Cipriani is expected to behave in line with the core values of the game which include respect and discipline.

"Those core values are not empty words or slogans as the panel were reminded during the hearing.

“By his guilty plea before the criminal court, Mr Cipriani accepts that he behaved in a way that, in the panel’s view, fell below the standard of behaviour expected of a rugby player.

"The panel were supported in reaching that decision by Gloucester Rugby’s own internal disciplinary hearing finding that his behaviour fell below the standard that the club expects.

“Mr Cipriani is a role model and by committing an act of common assault and by resisting arrest, the panel find his actions are prejudicial to the interests of the game.


"The panel took in to account the sanction imposed upon Mr Cipriani by the court and the sanction imposed by Gloucester Rugby and when considering the totality of both, do not impose any further sanction.

"However, the panel do not agree that this is a ‘minor’ incident or ‘trivial’ and whilst they endorse the actions of Gloucester Rugby in fining Mr Cipriani and ordering that he complete 10 hours of work in the community, find that the decision of the RFU to bring a charge under Rule 5.12 was appropriate.”

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