"No smoke & mirrors to it." - Skivington on Cipriani exit

Gloucester have been quick to make it clear that there is no animosity between them and now former club representative Danny Cipriani after the latter announced yesterday [Tuesday] that he would be ending his relationship with the Cherry & Whites with immediate effect.

Head coach George Skivington has told reporters that he had been in talks with Cipriani for a number of weeks prior to the announcement. The 33 year-old fly-half has not taken the field in Gloucester colours since 21 November.

“Danny thought it was time for a new challenge, and we fully support him in that,” Skivington said. “We shook hands, and Danny is off to whatever his next challenge is.

“I am pleased for Danny. He has been a great servant to the club, and he can push on and challenge himself in whatever route he chooses to go down.

“A player of his quality is great to watch when he is in full flow. I am sure the fans will have plenty of nice messages for him, and they will appreciate what he did when he was here.

“It is a shock to everyone outside the inner circle, if you like. We kept it in-house until Danny had decided exactly what he wanted to do.

“It is what it is, to be honest with you. There is no smoke or mirrors to it. There has been no incident or any fallout or anything of that nature.

“Someone of Danny’s quality, we all know what he can do on his day, and it’s great to watch. It would be a real shame if he didn’t take on a new challenge.

“I have known Danny a long time. I’ve got a very good relationship with him, and we will continue to have a very good relationship.

“It’s always sad when you have got to say goodbye to someone of Danny’s quality in a squad, but the conversations I’ve had with Danny, I’m very comfortable this is the right thing for him to do.

“I am pleased for Danny that he’s happy and that’s the way he wants to go. The fact we could honestly talk about it is a benefit to both parties.

“When a player wants to move on and fancies a new challenge, there is no point trying to keep them at a club where it’s not necessarily for them anymore, because it will only cause dramas.

“By the last conversation, you pretty much know where it is going to be, and you have got to respect the way people feel.”

Cipriani posted on Twitter that he had reached his decision “after much deliberation” and had “mixed emotions about it” but was “excited for the challenges I have ahead”.

It is not clear what his next move will be.