Cipriani off to Sale for three years

England exile Danny Cipriani is to return to his home country after signing a three-year deal with Sale.

The 24-year-old fly-half, once seen as the natural successor to Jonny Wilkinson in the national side, will return to the Aviva Premiership at the end of his two-season stay with Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.

He initially left England in 2010 when he swapped Wasps for Melbourne, but will now be back with Steve Diamond’s side.

Cipriani has been linked with several clubs in recent weeks, but the Sharks confirmed on their website they’d snared his signature.

“Quality signings such as Danny are a massive statement of intent from the Sharks as we aim to become a Super Northern club,” said coach and chief executive Steve Diamond.

“Danny has been targeted by many European clubs, but has chosen to be based in Manchester as he feels that the Sharks give him the best opportunity to fulfil his aspirations to be the number one fly-half in England by the time of the 2015 World Cup.”

Such a role seemed to be Cipriani’s birthright when he first emerged on the scene as a rookie 17-year-old in 2004.

His progress continued and in 2008 he was named as the Professional Rugby Association’s young player-of-the-year after making his England debut against Ireland in March of that year.

That, though, was only after he missed the chance to make it against Scotland after being dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

He went on to win six more caps but has fallen out of favour since, with his time in Melbourne taking him out of the selection picture.

His time there has not been plain sailing either, with the Rebels standing him down for a month last season after a breach of discipline.