Ex-England rugby player Danny Cipriani has shared intriguing insights into the backstage turmoil that unfolded during the 2015 training camp preceding the ill-fated Rugby World Cup campaign.
The squad, under Stuart Lancaster, unexpectedly exited the tournament in the group stages, marking a dismal campaign in which Cipriani was notably absent from the action.
In his explosive new autobiography, titled ‘Who Am I?’, Cipriani has dropped a bombshell by revealing that he believes four members of the current England squad formed a leadership group reminiscent of the Mafia during the ill-fated tournament.
This revelation is part of an exclusive extract from his upcoming book, which is currently being serialised in The Sunday Timesand The Sun.
Although initially he thought he got on with the players, Cipriani writes that he found out he was persona non-grata following a Whats App back and forth while in camp.
He wrote: “Still, I get on fine with most of them. At least I think I do.
“Sam’s [Burgess] in a WhatsApp group with the mafia, until one day, he posts a picture on Instagram of me and him in a coffee shop. A few hours later, George screenshots the picture and messages it to Sam, before removing him from the group.
“Sam couldn’t care less but I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend them. Clearly I’m not as welcome as I thought I was.”
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