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London - England star Danny Cipriani's Rugby World Cup hopes were in doubt on Tuesday after news reports that he had been arrested for drink driving following a car crash in London.
The Sale Sharks player, 27, was said to be unhurt after his Mercedes crashed into a Toyota in west London early Monday morning.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at approximately 05:15 on Monday, June 1 to reports
of two cars in collision in Imperial Road, SW6.
"The driver of the Mercedes, a 27-year-old man,
was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
"He was taken to a west London police station
where he was later released on police bail.
Return date to be confirmed."
Newspaper reports identified the arrested man
as being Cipriani.
The talented flyhalf is a member of a 50-man
preliminary World Cup squad, and looked to
have boosted has chances of being called up
to the final squad of 31, when it is announced
on August 31, after scoring 33 points in an
England XV's 73-12 victory over the Barbarians
at Twickenham on Sunday.
Only last week Cipriani said being included in
England's World Cup training squad was a "dream"
and revealed he wanted to become a coach when
his playing days were over.
"I want to be a role model and that person who
helps develop people," Cipriani said.
Cipriani has often hit the headlines for his off-field
activities, having dated models Kelly Brook and
Katie Price, and was knocked unconscious after
being hit by a bus during a night out with team-
mates in 2013.
England coach Stuart Lancaster has already
dropped hooker Dylan Hartley, after he received
a four-match suspension for headbutting an
opponent, and centre Manu Tuilagi, who was
convicted of shoving two police officers in a fight,
from his World Cup squad.
Cipriani backed Lancaster's decision to axe
powerful centre Tuilagi, unaware then that
off-field indiscipline might also scupper his
own World Cup hopes seven days later.
"Manu understands what he did and Stuart Lancaster
handled it in the best way he could," Cipriani said.
"It will be sad that Manu won't be there but the
rules have been set. And that's how it is."
England's 2011 World Cup was dogged by
indiscipline after players were photographed
on a night out and three of the team reprimanded
for making inappropriate comments to a female
hotel worker.
Tuilagi was also formally warned by police after
jumping from a ferry in Auckland.
Lancaster has until the deadline of August 31 to
name his final 31-man World Cup squad.
Tournament hosts England face Fiji in their
World Cup opener at Twickenham on September 18.
