Former England flyhalf Danny Cipriani has complained of scheming within the 2015 training camp that preceded the ill-fated Rugby World Cup campaign of 2015.
Stuart Lancaster’s side infamously failed to make it out of the pool stages of their own tournament, a campaign that Cipriani played no part in.
Now Cipriani in his explosive new autobiography – ‘Who Am I?’ – he has named four of the current England squad as running a Mafia-like leadership group during the tournament in an extract from his new book which is being serialised in The Sunday Times and The Sun.
The former England playmaker names a ‘clique’ that includes current England players Owen Farrell, George Ford, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs; all whom allegedly controlled the squad dynamic under Lancaster.
Although initially he thought he got on with the players, Cipriani writes that he found out he was persona non-grata following a Whats App back and forth while in camp.
“A clique of players helps run the team: Owen Farrell, George Ford, Chris Robshaw, Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, a couple of others.
“They’re called “the leadership group”, but more like the mafia, always appearing to be scheming.
“Still, I get on fine with most of them. At least I think I do.
“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.
“Sam couldn’t care less but I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend them. Clearly I’m not as welcome as I thought I was.”
Cipriani was dropped by Lancaster, despite picking up a man of the match award in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Argentina.
“You copped out, mate,” Cipriani told Lancaster after he was axed. “You never even played me at No10. But I did all I could and I respect your decision.”
He also recounts his side of the story when he fell out with attack coach Mike Catt, shortly after learning of his non selection for the tournament while still in training camp.
“I’ve just been told I’m not in the World Cup squad and now I’m pushing a heavy sled around the field. It’s as dumb as it gets, but I’m mucking in. Suddenly, attack coach Mike Catt screams, “For f***’s sake, Danny, put your back into it!”
“I don’t say anything, but I think, What the f*** is his problem? Catt’s had beef with me for years.
“He’s slagged me off in the papers, called me a liability and once whacked me around the head when I was playing for Wasps and he was playing for London Irish. At the final whistle I refused to shake his hand and his team-mates accused me of being a d***head.
“But as far as I was concerned, it was all water under the bridge. I get back to pushing this sled and a couple of minutes later, Catt comes at me again: “F***ing hell, Danny, is that the best you can do?”
“I stop what I’m doing, give him my best “don’t you f***ing speak to me like that” stare and get back to pushing, but my heart’s not in it.
“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 shit, 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!”
