London (AFP) – England rugby star Danny Cipriani was fined £2,000 ($2,500) on Thursday after pleading guilty to common assault following an incident at a nightclub on the island of Jersey.
The mercurial 30-year-old utility back — who had revived his international career in June with a first start for over a decade against South Africa — also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest during the incident late Wednesday which took place on his club Gloucester’s pre-season training camp on the island.
Three other charges were dropped.
A female police officer suffered bruising to her neck in the incident at the Royal Yacht Hotel in St Helier, the court was told.
Cipriani was fined £1,500 for resisting arrest and £500 for assault.
He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the police officer.
Cipriani signed for Gloucester earlier this year after a successful spell with their rivals Wasps which had sparked both a nomination for Premiership player of the season and a surprise recall to the national squad.
Cipriani, who has also had a spell in Australia with Melbourne Rebels, said he could have moved abroad but wanted to see if he made Eddie Jones’s squad for the South Africa tour.
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 the Springboks and ended a six-match losing streak.
He had been expected to make his first appearance for Gloucester in a pre-season friendly against Ulster on Saturday.
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