England rugby union icon reveals ‘conversations’ over code-switch to league

Former England rugby union man Danny Cipriani has revealed ‘conversations’ over switching to rugby league throughout his career.

He made 16 appearances for England, including in the Six Nations Championship, and made hundreds of appearances in the domestic club competition, the Premiership.

Now, he will take part in Sunday’s 745 Game, raising money for MND charities, which was developed by legends Ed Slater, Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.

It will take place at Headingley Stadium, at 3pm, and it is hoped that it could become an annual event going forward to support the MND community.

Taking part in the union team for the game, which will be played with hybrid rules between union and league, Cipriani said, per Love Rugby League: “This is a game for the people and for three men who have put their hearts on the line.”

“For the codes to come together, there’s so much about this game that’s profound because we’re coming together for people and that’s the type of thing we want to see in this country. We can put our differences aside and create something that’s good for everyone.”

England rugby union icon reveals “conversations” over code-switch to league

This won’t be completely new ground for Cipriani, however.

He said: “It’s a bit of a dream because I’ve always wanted to play a league game and I’m getting to do a bit of both now.”

Asked if switching codes had been a possibility, he said: “I had some conversations very sparingly but my dream was always to play rugby for England.

“But I would learn from players in rugby league more than anyone. I spent two years in Melbourne with Andrew Johns, he was coaching me for two years, and I learned an awful lot from him in terms of the way he saw the game.

“Obviously Shaun Edwards was my first coach and I spent hours with him on Saturday mornings when I was a kid. Ball-playing is not fully understood in union yet so that’s why I’d always go to league and learn from that.”

Now, he has the opportunity to play a game against some true legends of the game.