Cipriani backs new owner at Wasps

Published on Wednesday 3 December 2008 23:26

ENGLAND fly-half Danny Cipriani has signalled his intention to stay at Wasps as the club enters a new era under the ownership of business tycoon Steve Hayes.

Cipriani and England colleague James Haskell are among a number of Wasps players whose contracts expire at the end of the current season. Both are "marquee players" who could attract lucrative offers from richer rivals in the Guinness Premiership and in France, where the Top 14 clubs are not subject to a salary cap.

Hayes, also managing director of Wycombe Wanderers, with whom Wasps share a ground, has confirmed that finalising new contracts for the club's big-name stars is now his main priority.

Cipriani is keen to stay but he wants assurances that Wasps plan on keeping the current squad together and remaining true to their traditional values. "I would like to stay at Wasps and have my future here. I've just got to know about the players who are going to stay around as well," he said.

"You want to make sure you have all the young players and you have all the talented players coming through together and staying on.

"Wasps is such a great club. Ideally, I would like to stay at Wasps and get the whole structure in place and get everything right.

"It is a unique place with the values to win. There are some of the best coaches in the world here and their winning mentality rubs off on the younger players.

"Cipriani welcomed the announcement that Hayes had bought out majority shareholder Chris Wright and John O'Connor to take sole charge of the reigning Guinness Premiership champions.

"Steve Hayes is a top guy who I think will be good for the club," said Cipriani.