Stuart Hooper opens up on plans for Cipriani

Bath head coach Stuart Hooper does not plan to introduce Danny Cipriani into the current campaign, according to a report in somersetlive.co.uk. 

Cipriani recently signed with Bath on an extended one-year contract to include the remainder of this season, however, it appears that he will start with the club on a clean slate in the 2021-22 instalment, despite Bath desparately needing to finish in the Premiership’s top 8 to gain access to the Challenge Cup. 

"It is absolutely our objective to finish in the top eight, in the Champions Cup is where we want to be and we have got three games to do that against some decent opposition, two away, one at home,” Hooper said. 

“That is the objective and we would rather be talking about other objectives at this time of year but that is where we are and that is the focus.” 

Hooper revealed that he does not think that rushing Cipriani back into the mix after some off-field struggles and a fairly long break away from the pitch would be a wise course of action. 

“He has come in and as we planned he is building himself back up in the programme, he is not in full rugby yet but he is doing skills. 

“He is having an input around the place and talking about his experiences and his views on things. 

“He is working to a point where he will be ready to go at the start of next season.”