Danny Cipriani has dismissed reports linking him with a summer move to Stade Français, insisting he is happy at Wasps and that he wants to regain a regular place in the side to put himself in contention for an England recall.
The 22-year-old outside-half, who has not played for England since the 2008 Six Nations, is out of contract at Adams Park at the end of the season. A French website reported that his representatives had held talks with Stade Français, who earlier this year signed from Wasps the England forwards James Haskell and Tom Palmer.
Wasps have opened contract talks with Cipriani, who is free to talk to clubs from Friday. While clubs in France will be saddled with a salary cap from next season, it is nearly double the Guinness Premiership's £4m and the Stade president, Max Guazzini, is reported to believe that Cipriani would be better suited temperamentally to the French game.
Harlequins are also believed to be interested but Cipriani said: "My focus is on my rugby. I am happy at Wasps and we have a squad to move forward. I want to put a string of games together for Wasps after missing a couple of months through injury and if England came calling I would love to be involved."
London Irish have secured the England international Armitage brothers, Delon and Steffon, on new contracts. "Signing for the club again was not a difficult decision," said the full-back, Delon, who missed the autumn internationals after a shoulder operation. "The future here is exciting."
The Leinster coach, Michael Cheika, is leaving the province at the end of the season to return to Australia but his planned job in charge of the newly formed Super 15 side based in Melbourne, which is due to join the tournament in 2011, is in jeopardy after financial backers pulled out following a dispute with the Australian Rugby Union.
A spokesman for the VicSuper15group, Ray Evans, said: "We had Michael lined up to coach the side and Rocky Elsom [the Australia captain] to lead the side, but I am not sure that will happen. The ARU will not provide financial parity so the exercise does not look commercially sound."
Cardiff Blues, who have failed to adequately replace Nicky Robinson at outside-half this season, have asked the Ospreys to name their price for the Wales international James Hook, who has been played out of position at centre and full-back this season.
Hook, who has another 18 months to run on his contract at the Liberty Stadium, wants to play regularly in the No10 shirt but Dan Biggar is blocking his way. The Ospreys told the Blues to look elsewhere and the Scotland outside-half, Dan Parks, has been lined up as an alternative should Hook not lobby for a move.
