‘Is Cips’ book fiction or non fiction?’ – England prop casts doubt over Danny Cipriani’s claim

Colin Newboult
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Former England fly-half Danny Cipriani playing for the Barbarians in 2022.

England prop Joe Marler insists that there is room for different characters to flourish in rugby union, rejecting Danny Cipriani’s account from his new book.

In extracts from Cipriani’s soon-to-be released autobiography Who am I?, the former Red Rose fly-half feels that mavericks are not accepted in the sport.

Marler sees it differently to his ex-team-mate having become renowned for his quirkiness and individuality during his career.

The prop has had several different hairstyles and entertained people with his unique interviews, both of which have not held back his career according to the Harlequins front-rower.

Martin Johnson anecdote

“That is his experience. That is his story. That is not my story,” he told reporters.

“Is Cips’ book fiction or non fiction? Do we know what section of the bookshop it will be in? I tried asking him the other night but he’s not answering.

“That is Danny’s view on it and I can’t deny his view on it. But that is not how I see it. That is his experience and he is more than entitled to share that.

“Martin Johnson was in charge for my first camp 13 years ago. I had a mohawk – think it might have been red or stars and a rat’s tail at the back. I looked horrific, actually.

“I remember Martin Johnson coming down the steps and he went: ‘Are you ready for training?’ I said ‘yeah, definitely’.

“He said ‘are you going to have a haircut before you get to training?’ I was like ‘Umm’. Then he just walked off.”

How the individual reacts

He added: “Now some people might interpret that as him being serious and it might be a case that actually you don’t fit the bill, you need to go and shave your hair off. But I took it as ‘he’s just joking’.

“Funnily enough I was sent home the next day! But I think it had more to do with the fact Andrew Sheridan’s back recovered. I’d like to think that!

“It’s up to the individual. You’ve got a choice in how you react to being told something.

“The perfect position would be everyone working towards what’s best for the team whilst still being able to show who they are, what they’re about, how they want to do it and how they can add to it.”

READ MORE: ‘It was a chore’ – England prop Joe Marler in dig at former boss Eddie Jones

England Danny Cipriani Joe Marler

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