by Danny Cipriani has become the latest former England star to voice criticism of Eddie Jones, insisting he felt the Australian refused to select him at Test level because he “couldn’t let Jones bully him”.
Cipriani will return to a rugby field this weekend when he takes part in the inaugural 745 Game, a cross-code hybrid game featuring some of the biggest names in rugby union and league to raise money for people with motor neurone disease. The event, which will take place in Headingley, was created by Rob Burrow and Ed Slater before Burrow died earlier this year.
Cipriani insists supporting Slater is the only way he can put his rugby boots back on, with the fly-half now retired and living in America. Arguably the greatest attacking talent of his generation, the 37-year-old was only used twice by Jones and was left out of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He said he was not surprised to hear recent criticism of the Australian from another former teammate of his, Danny Care, given his personal experience working with Jones. He said: “My experience with Eddie shows that he probably felt I was resisting him too much and he didn’t feel he could bully me, so he didn’t accept me into his circle.
“With Eddie, you saw the way he spoke to you and the media. I’m not here to denigrate Eddie as an individual, but he is not someone I want leading my country because of the way he behaves.
“I don’t think he’s happy with his behavior, I think that’s all he knows, so I feel bad for him too. I found Eddie difficult in that regard because I turned water into wine in one season and he didn’t even pick me – so it was crazy.”
Cipriani will be one of the stars of Sunday’s 745 game, which features a unique cross-code ruleset and aims to raise thousands to support people with MND. He believes the game will “go down in history” and says the call from his former Gloucester team-mate Slater was the only thing that convinced him to play again.
“I am more than fit enough to play professional rugby at the moment,” said Cipriani. “But there’s no one who could pay me enough money to do it because of all the arguments that come with it. The only reason I put my boots on was for Ed to come back and play on a day that will go down in history.
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“I’ve always wanted to play a game of rugby league and this week I’ll get to experience a bit of both. But to represent Ed, Rob and Doddie [Weir]three men who put their hearts on each other’s behalf is amazing.”
