Michael Lipman spurns return to Premiership for longer stay with Rebels in Super 15
Michael Lipman, the former Bath and England flanker, is to turn down the opportunity to return to the Premiership with London Irish and instead sign a new contract with the Melbourne Rebels, the Australian Super 15 side.
Staying in Australia: Michael Lipman remains keen to play for England, but will not return to the Premiership soon Photo: PA
By Gavin Mairs 7:58PM BST 21 Apr 2011
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The Daily Telegraph understands that Lipman, last capped by England in 2008, has signed a one-year contract extension with the Rebels, who have won three of their first eight games in their inaugural season in the Super 15.
It was understood London Irish were keen to sign Lipman, 31, who left England in 2009 when he parted ways with Bath after being banned for nine months for failing to take a drugs test following an end-of-season party. They wanted him as a potential replacement for Steffon Armitage, who has been linked with a move to French Top 14 side Toulon.
Irish, however, are now resigned to the fact that Lipman, who together with former England fly-half Danny Cipriani and Wales No 8 Gareth Delve has made a huge impact with the new franchise in Victoria, will remain in Australia next season.
It was unclear last night as to what impact Lipman’s decision would have on Armitage’s proposed move to Toulon, who last week claimed to have signed the 25 year-old, despite claims by London Irish that they had not agreed to release him from his three-year contract.
Lipman spoke last week of his ambitions to potentially resurrect his England career by returning to the Premiership, claiming London Irish would be the only club apart from Bath he would consider joining if he were to return to the Premiership.
“There is unfinished business in England,” Lipman said. “I have a point to prove and that is my driving force. I played my whole career over there and want to finish on a good note. The past is the past.”
It appears the attraction of another season in the Super 15 has persuaded Lipman to stay. Even though he was raised in New South Wales, Lipman, who was born in London and has an English father and an Australian mother, is regarded as an overseas player and, under Australia Rugby Union restrictions, can spend only two seasons at the Rebels.
London Irish must now decide whether to insist that Armitage, who won the last of his five England caps against Italy in Rome last year, honours his contract or to find another potential replacement.
The rise of England Under-20s openside flanker Jamie Gibson may convince Irish that they already have enough talent to replace Armitage, given the need to also replace No 8 George Stowers, who is joining the Ospreys next season.
Lipman may be joined by England flanker James Haskell in Australia next season, following reports that the Stade Francais player has been linked with a move to the New South Wales Waratahs, despite a declaration by the Rugby Football Union that it intends to only pick England-based players for the national squad after this year’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, the RFU last night defended its decision to “hedge their risk” by placing a £250,000 premium with an insurance broker to cover potential £2.25million bonus payments to players if England win the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in October.
“I am sure that we, as a professional and responsible sports governing body, are not alone in ensuring we minimise our financial risks at all times, including around tournaments such as the Rugby World Cup,” an RFU spokesman said.
“We are not directly placing money with bookmakers, but rather hedging our risk with an independent broker. It is financially prudent so that we can continue our investment in the grassroots of the sport which last year totalled more than £21million.”
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