Cipriani accuses Farrell and others of running England like a 'mafia'
Danny Cipriani accuses England captain Owen Farrell and other stars of running the team like a ‘MAFIA’ at the 2015 World Cup… and opens up on his explosive row with coach Mike Catt
- Danny Cipriani was part of the England camp ahead of the 2015 World Cup
- However, he didn’t make the final 31-man squad that crashed out in the groups
- Cipriani has opened up on some of his team-mates and his row with Mike Catt
Danny Cipriani has claimed that England captain Owen Farrell and George Ford were part of a leadership group that led the 2015 Rugby World Cup team like a ‘mafia’.
In his autobiography, ‘Who Am I?’, Cipriani lifted the lid on the England team and his explosive row with coach Mike Catt.
In an extract from his book, published by the Sun, Cipriani claimed that Owen Farrell, George Ford, Chris Robshaw, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs were among a leadership group.
He said that while he believed he got on well with them, he also said how they were ‘always scheming’.
He said: ‘Sam’s (Burgess) in a WhatsApp group with the mafia, until one day, he posts a picture on Instagram of me and him in a coffee shop. A few hours later, George screenshots the picture and messages it to Sam, before removing him from the group.
Danny Cipriani has accused Owen Farrell and other players of leading England’s 2015 Rugby World Cup team ‘like a mafia’
Cipriani said Farrell, George Ford (right) and others always appeared to be ‘scheming’
Cipriani did not make the final cut for the 2015 World Cup squad after playing as part of their warm-up camp
‘Sam couldn’t care less, but I think, I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend them, but clearly I’m not as welcome as I thought I was.’
England were knocked out at the group stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup as they finished behind beaten finalists Australia and Wales in their group.
Cipriani was part of the summer camp who prepared for the World Cup, though he was not selected for the final squad.
Catt, who was an attacking coach under head coach Stuart Lancaster, was involved in a verbal confrontation with Cipriani after the latter had been told he would not make the final squad.
It’s claimed that Catt told Cipriani that he would never play for England again as long as he was involved in the set-up.
Cipriani (left) got into a row with Mike Catt (right) with the latter allegedly claiming that the rugby star would not play for England again as long as he was involved in the set-up
Cipriani said: ‘They’ve just told me I’m not playing in the World Cup and now this w***** is taking the p*** out of me. It happens again — “F***ing s*** Danny, work harder!” — this time I’ve had enough.
‘I walk straight towards him, get in his face and say, “Have you got something to say to me, Mike Catt?” He starts stuttering, before screaming in my face, spittle flying everywhere, “As long as I’m involved, you’ll never play for England again!”
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