England rugby star Cipriani charged with assaulting police

England rugby player Danny Cipriani has been charged with assaulting police during an incident at a nightclub on the island of Jersey yesterday, police and Gloucester Rugby Club said. “This afternoon 30-year-old Daniel Cipriani was charged with common assault, larceny, assault on police, resisting arrest,” a States of Jersey Police spokesman said.
“He’s been remanded in custody until his court appearance at the magistrates’ court at 10am tomorrow,” he added. His club Gloucester confirmed the fly-half had been arrested and charged following the drama at a nightclub in St Helier, the capital of the Engilsh Channel island.
“Gloucester Rugby are aware of an incident involving Danny Cipriani in the early hours of Wednesday morning following an incident at a St Helier nightclub,” it said in a statement. “The club will be issuing no further comment at this time but will make a further announcement in due course.”
Cipriani, 30, signed for the English Premiership side earlier this year in a bid to revive a dormant international career. In June he started for England for the first time in a decade, playing a key role in a magical try that ensured victory over South Africa and ended a six-match losing streak. The former Sale and Wasps star had been expected to make his first appearance for Gloucester in a pre-season friendly against Ulster on Saturday.

Former France rugby chief Pierre Camou dies aged 72
Former French Rugby Federation president Pierre Camou died yesterday aged 72 after a long illness, the federation announced. Camou, who headed the FFR from 2008 to 2016, was the man initially behind France’s successful candidacy to stage the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Under the former banker’s watch France made it to the final of the 2011 World Cup, succumbing to hosts the All Blacks. If that was a high point, one of the national team’s lowest ebbs during Camou’s regime came when they were swept aside 62-13 by New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup in England.
Camou’s tenure at the helm of French rugby came to an end when he was beaten in the 2016 FFR election for what would have been his third term by Bernard Laporte. Former France international Yannick Bru paid tribute to “a brilliant, honourable and upstanding man who served our sport. A sad day for French rugby.”
One of Camou’s pet projects was the idea of a 600mn euros ($677mn) “Big Stadium” to host all France’s home internationals from 2020. The plan was shelved after opposition by his successor, Laporte.

England hit with Watson, Joseph injury blows
England’s injury troubles have worsened with outside back Anthony Watson and centre Jonathan Joseph ruled out of the November internationals. Winger Watson ruptured his left Achilles during England’s defeat by Ireland in March and his Bath teammate Joseph twisted his ankle in a loss to Saracens in April.
Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder said Watson underwent a second surgery for his injury and was a doubt for the 2019 Six Nations. Joseph could return around Christmas. “The initial surgery didn’t take basically, (he needed)another tear to have surgery again. He’s had to start afresh and it was done about a month ago,” Blackadder said. “JJ (Joseph) is still on track. He’ll be somewhere around Christmas time... It’s hard to put a timeline on these things.” The duo, who missed England’s series defeat by South Africa, are set to be sidelined for home matches against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia. A slew of injuries to players sustained during England training camps prompted a war of words between the national team’s head coach Eddie Jones and Bath owner Bruce Craig in May.
Blackadder said he hoped to work closer with the England set-up to ensure players’ health. “There will be lessons learned on both sides on how we get the best out of all our players,” he said. “Hopefully common sense will prevail and we send players (to England) in the best possible nick they can be and we just hope that is reciprocated.”