Ed Slater’s Clash of the Codes – Danny Cipriani ‘excited’ as full playing squads revealed for Union v League clash at Headingley
Danny Cipriani is looking forward to playing in Ed Slater's Clash of the Codes.
Danny Cipriani has learned he will team up with a former England captain, a current Premiership director of rugby and two series-winning British and Irish Lions in Ed Slater’s Clash of the Codes this weekend.
The charity ‘745 Game’ between union and league was dreamed up by Slater and the late Rob Burrow to raise much-needed revenue to fund the quest for a cure for motor neurone disease.
Stars of both codes have lined up to offer their services for Sunday’s Headingley clash with Cipriani, a former Gloucester team-mate of Slater, lacing the boots for the first time since announcing his retirement in January.
‘Special men’
“Excited to play in this hybrid game,” Cipriani wrote on Instagram. “Unify the codes for some special men.”
The full list of players from both codes to have offered their services can today be revealed.
Former England star Cipriani has agreed to spearhead a union squad which boasts Tom Wood, who won 50 caps for England captained the Red Rose on tour to Argentina in 2013.
That same summer Tom Youngs and Richard Hibbard helped the Lions win a series in Australia – and the two hookers will also be on parade in the cross-code contest.
Phil Dowson, the director of rugby who led Northampton Saints to Premiership glory in June, is another ex-England star to dust down his playing kit.
In opposition is a League squad also liberally sprinkled with stardust in the form of Danny McGuire, Luke Gale, Keith Senior, Gareth Ellis, Adrian Morley and Gary Connolly.
The last time rugby came together in this way the crowd was so big the start had to be delayed and the end degenerated into a war of words still remembered a generation on.
Tickets are still available at tickets.therhinos.co.uk or by calling 0371 4523 1315. Funds raised will be divided between the Rob Burrow Discretionary Fund, 4ED and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Full squad lists
Union: Alex Waller, Andy Forsyth, Anthony Allen, Billy Twelvetrees, Ethan Waller, Danny Cipriani, Dom Waldouck, Finlay Stewart, Geordan Murphy, Graham Kitchener, Guy Thompson, Joe Simpson, Josh Matavesi, Johne Murphy, Kian Stewart, Kyle Trainer, Lee Dickson, Matt Banahan, Matt Cornwell, Matt Garvey, Michael Holford, Micky Young, Paddy McAllister, Phil Dowson, Richard Hibbard, Tom Cruse, Tommy Bell, Tom Youngs, Tom Wood, Tom Johnson.
League: Aaron Murphy, Adrian Morley, Anthony Thackeray, Ben Westwood, Bob Beswick, Danny McGuire, Danny Brough, Darrell Griffin, Ewan Downs, Gareth Ellis, Gary Connolly, Jacques O’Neill, Keith Senior, Kyle Wood, Kyle Leuluai, Luke Ambler, Luke Gale, Matt Diskin, Paul McShane, Ryan Atkins, Scott Murrell, Tom Mines, Wayne Goodwin, Wayne Price