CONFIRMED: Danny Cipriani returns to the Premiership
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Danny Cipriani will join Bath Rugby in May on an extended one-year contract, to include the completion of the 2020/21 season, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 16-cap England international will join the Blue, Black and White at the beginning of May, following a rigorous recruitment process to strengthen the club’s options at fly-half, with Rhys Priestland departing to Cardiff Blues at the end of this season.
The 33-year-old playmaker is credited for his unique vision as well as his natural creativity and impressive attacking skillset, contributing to a semi-final place for Gloucester in 2018/19 and the Rugby Players’ Association Players’ Player of the Year 2019.
Highly attack-minded, Cipriani’s ability to predict the passage of play, create space and control the game is a key component of the fly-half's unique attributes.
His expertise in game understanding, combined with an exciting commitment to seizing opportunities, has often resulted in match-winning moments across his 18-year career in the sport.
The Premiership Player of the Season in 2018-19 with Gloucester, Danny Cipriani has joined West Country rivals Bath ✍️ pic.twitter.com/FOhAZ9sbFi
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) March 25, 2021
On joining the Blue, Black and White, Cipriani said: “I’ve been really focused over the past three months on improving my running efficiency and kicking, while looking for a club that matches my ambition. After speaking with Stuart and Neal, it was clear that Bath offered that opportunity.
“We talked about what I could bring to the club and what Bath were looking for in a fly-half; someone who could be part of an attacking mindset, who could help unlock that aspect of the game and inject additional pace and vision - complementing the quality in the team.
“The club has a clear ambition and drive that aligns with my own; they want to achieve something special as a team, they want to win. That was a very appealing vision for me.”