Danny Cipriani to make Bath debut in 2021/22 season
Former England fly-half Danny Cipriani will not make his debut for Bath until the 2021/22 season, according to the Premiership club’s director of rugby, Stuart Hooper.
Cipriani joined his new club earlier this month after signing an extended one-year contract which included the completion of the 2020/21 season.
But Hooper confirmed that the former Wasps, Sale Sharks and Gloucester playmaker will not be in action during the current campaign despite the club being in the race for a top-eight spot which will see them qualify for next season’s Champions Cup.
“It is absolutely our objective to finish in the top eight, in the Champions Cup is where we want to be and we have got three games to do that against some decent opposition, two away, one at home,” he told Somerset Live.
“That is the objective and we would rather be talking about other objectives at this time of year but that is where we are and that is the focus.”
Cipriani last played for his previous club – Gloucester – in November last year before taking a break away from the game following off-field issues. And Hooper said he does not want the 33-year-old to return to action before he is ready and at his best.
Make sure to sign up to Planet Rugby’s newsletter by clicking here
“He has come in and as we planned he is building himself back up in the programme, he is not in full rugby yet but he is doing skills,” he added.
“He is having an input around the place and talking about his experiences and his views on things.
“He is working to a point where he will be ready to go at the start of next season.”
Hooper explained why he wants Cipriani to arrive before pre-season starts in July.
“It was always about bringing him in and acclimatising, getting to know people,” he said. “I wanted to avoid having a pre-season where you come in day one and have to introduce people.
“As much as we can, even with other players we are bringing in and will bring in, we will try and bring them in before the summer break to introduce them so we don’t have those moments in pre-season where people are new.
“Equally we could have a fair number of people away for the start of pre-season with international tours so it was important for me to at least introduce people before that happens so we are one step ahead and can hit the ground running in July.”