Further £2,000 fine for rugby star after Jersey nightclub assault

Tuesday 21 August 2018

English rugby star Danny Cipriani, who was fined £2,000 in Jersey’s Magistrate’s Court for common assault and resisting arrest last week, has been fined a further £2,000 by his club.

According to the club, half the money will go to their chosen charity, Pied Piper, which raises money for sick and disabled children in Gloucestershire, and the other half to the official charity of the Rugby Players’ Association, Restart Rugby.

Mr Cipriani has also been given 10 hours community service. He’ll serve that by helping coach local children rugby.

The club though didn’t find Mr Cipriani guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

But, that’s not the end of the matter. Later this week he’s got a disciplinary hearing with the Rugby Football Union, although the date, time and members of the independent panel are yet to be confirmed by the governing body. He’s charged with conduct prejudicial to the interest of the game.

If found guilty he could be banned for the first few weeks of the new season. According to newspaper reports Gloucester are furious about the hearing.

Pictured: If found guilty by the Rugby Football Union of conduct prejudicial to the interest of the game, Cipriani could be banned from playing rugby for the first few weeks of the season.

A Gloucester Rugby statement described Cipriani's transgression as a "minor incident." It added: "While Danny is very apologetic for his actions, we do not believe he is guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and he will continue to get our full support."

“Having reviewed all the facts and spoken to both Danny and (scrum-half) Willi Heinz, who witnessed the events first hand, we are in agreement with the magistrate in Jersey that this was a minor incident… While Danny is very apologetic for his actions, we do not believe he is guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and he will continue to get our full support," the club said.