Danny Cipriani given World Cup boost with England coach Stuart Lancaster 'open minded' after delay with drink-driving case

In contention: Danny Cipriani
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Chris Jones18 August 2015

Danny Cipriani‘s bid to make the England Rugby World Cup squad has received a boost with the Metropolitan Police confirming his bail on suspicion of drink-driving has been extended to the middle of November.

This means Stuart Lancaster, the England head coach, is free to include the Sale outside half in his final 31 strong squad that has to be announced by August 31. Cipriani is set to be the third choice No10 behind Owen Farrell and George Ford and is expect to play in the opening warm up match with France at Twickenham on August 15.

Lancaster will cut his squad down to around 39 on Friday with Cipriani looking certain to survive this second trimming of the players as the head coach formulates his final 31.

Lancaster is delighted to have Cipriani as an option but made it clear he would almost certainly opt for just two No10’s in the final squad of 31. He said:” We didn’t have any control over the date and not it has been extended. He hasn't been charged with anything.

“We have just had the toughest ever training camp in Denver and Danny has performed well and I am still open minded about the final 31. Decisions have been made harder by the work the players have put in during training. Nick Easter is back training after his back problem and Ben Morgan is also able to undertake contact work.”

Cipriani, 27-years-old, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving in June after crashing his Mercedes just hours after his man-of-the-match performance against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

A Met Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail “We can confirm that a 27-year-old man arrested on suspicion of drink-driving has been re-bailed until mid November.”

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Lancaster also confirmed that former rugby league star Sam Burgess remains an option as a centre for the final 31-man squad but he added: “ Sam is facing a lot of competition as we have seven centres trying to get one of the four sport available.”

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