Cipriani and Mortlock in Melbourne Rebels

Danny Cipriani will rise again down under, says Ian McGeechan

Sir Ian McGeechan believes Danny Cipriani's impending move to Australia will ultimately prove good news for English rugby. The 22-year-old fly-half has agreed a two-year deal with the Melbourne Rebels and is set to depart the Guinness Premiership at the end of the season but his former director of rugby at Wasps is convinced he will return a better player.

"I think it'll be good for him because it'll put him into a different environment where he can reassess his game," McGeechan said. "He will get space to develop and he'll get very good guidance from Rod Macqueen. Two years down the line it could prove a huge plus for his development. It's the sort of experience that'll allow him to have a different view of what he's doing."

It is also McGeechan's belief that playing against fly-halves of the calibre of Dan Carter and Matt Giteau will swiftly restore Cipriani's confidence. "There's no doubt about his talent but we forget he's had two broken legs in 18 months. He's still getting back to where he was. If he does that, everything else will look after itself."

The Leicester Tigers vice-captain and former All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger's hopes of playing at next year's World Cup in New Zealand have ended after he was forced to retire with a back injury, sustained 12 months ago.

"After many different specialist treatments in the UK and Germany, along with an intense rehab plan, I have been unable to regain full fitness and participate in full team training and games without re-injuring myself," Mauger told the club website. "So unfortunately retiring now seems the last but only realistic option available."

Stirling Mortlock joins Danny Cipriani at the Melbourne Rebels

The former Australia captain Stirling Mortlock will join Danny Cipriani and Gareth Delve at the Melbourne Rebels in next season's expanded Super 15 competition.

Mortlock has turned down "significant overseas approaches" to sign a three-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union with a view to playing in a third World Cup in New Zealand next year.
The 32-year-old centre is currently in his 13th season with the ACT Brumbies and is the leading points scorer in the history of Super Rugby.

The Rebels head coach, Rod Macqueen, who gave Mortlock his Test debut against Argentina 10 years ago, said: "Stirling is yet another addition to our growing team of players with strong leadership skills.

"The opportunity to play out his career in Melbourne, and not overseas, is great for both Australian rugby and Stirling as he helps us build the foundations of the new club."