England rugby’s Cipriani in car crash

England rugby star Danny Cipriani’s 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 spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at approximately 5.15am on Monday, 1 June 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 fly-half is part 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 on Sunday.

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 teammates in 2013.

While playing with the Melbourne Rebels he was also in the spotlight for helping himself to a bottle of vodka at a bar while he was also at one stage dumped before a tour to South Africa for disciplinary reasons.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has already lost 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.

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.

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