Danny Cipriani is an English former professional rugby union player born on November 2, 1987, in Roehampton, London. He played primarily as a fly-half and fullback for several Premiership Rugby clubs including Wasps, Sale Sharks, Gloucester, and Bath, as well as for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby. Cipriani has been capped 16 times for England and is known for his talent, flamboyant playing style, and also for off-field controversies that have affected his career
. He began his rugby journey at a young age, attending schools such as Donhead Preparatory School, The Oratory School, and Whitgift School, where his sporting talent was nurtured. Besides rugby, he was involved in football, cricket, and squash at youth and county levels. Cipriani started his club rugby at Rosslyn Park RFC and joined the Wasps Academy at 16, making his first-team debut in 2007
. Cipriani made his England debut in 2008 and had a promising start, but his international career was marked by intermittent selections and omissions, partly due to disciplinary issues. He was part of England's Saxons team that won the Churchill Cup in 2007 and played in the 2014 England tour of New Zealand and the 2015 Six Nations. However, he was left out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad and the initial elite player squad under coach Eddie Jones in 2016
. Off the field, Cipriani has been a high-profile figure, often in the media spotlight for his lifestyle. He has also worked as a rugby speaker and is an animal rights activist, having appeared in a PETA campaign
. He authored a candid memoir titled Who Am I? , where he reflects on his career, personal struggles including mental health challenges, and his journey to understand himself beyond the sport. The book provides insight into his life on and off the pitch, his passion for rugby, and his efforts to overcome difficulties
. In summary, Danny Cipriani is a talented and complex former rugby player known for his skill, his turbulent career, and his openness about his personal challenges.
