Rugby Union Tournaments
Cipriani's possible Rebel cause
Danny Cipriani: Frustrated? Heading south?
It has been revealed that Danny Cipriani is one of a number of players talked to by Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen on last week's scouting mission.
Cipriani has not yet been subject of a formal offer, but as he is off-contract in May, the likelihood of such an offer is significant.
"We have just come back and interviewed around 25 players over there and he was one of them and we really haven't gone any further than that, it is very early days but he was keen to hear what we had to say," Macqueen told AAP.
"Danny is on our radar, he is a player we are looking at but we won't be making him an offer just yet."
The Rebels are allowed up to ten foreign players in their initial squad in order to get the ball rolling, and are currently hunting overseas as any signing of Australian-based players has been expressly forbidden until after the 2010 Super 14.
But although a number of overseason players have been spoken to, it seems macqueen is not intent on using up that quota of ten fully.
"We want to sign players as soon as possible and that is not an easy thing, the sooner we can get people to sign the better," continued Macqueen.
"From our point of view we need to have everything ready and complete by then so we can be fully prepared for the new season.
"We are only looking to get a maximum of five players from overseas, the rest will be Australian.
"I don't think it is a big a deal to have a high-profile team in Melbourne, more to be successful, as the public down there will always follow winners so it is important to have a team with a culture.
"Melbourne offers something a bit different ... the community does back sport and it has a profile around the world and we want players to experience it."
Cipriani, who is rated as one of the best young talents in English rugby, is very much out of favour with the England team management at the moment and after another season of setbacks this season, may well relish a stint overseas just for a break and personal development.
