Danny Cipriani says 'it feels like coming home' after sealing return to Wasps on two-year deal worth £300,000 a season

Danny Cipriani's big-money deal to return to his former club Wasps has been confirmed.

As revealed by Sportsmail on Monday The former Sale fly-half turned down interest from French giants Toulon and Aviva Premiership rivals Harlequins before agreeing a return 'home'.

The 28-year-old, who won the last of his 14 England caps against France last August but narrowly missed out on a place in Stuart Lancaster's 31-man World Cup squad, is understood to have agreed a two-year deal worth around £300,000 a season.

Sale Sharks No 10 Danny Cipriani has agreed a big-money deal to his return to his former club Wasps 

Sale Sharks No 10 Danny Cipriani has agreed a big-money deal to his return to his former club Wasps 

Cipriani tackles James Short during Sale's Aviva Premiership clash with Exeter on Saturday 

Cipriani tackles James Short during Sale's Aviva Premiership clash with Exeter on Saturday 

'I'm excited about returning to Wasps next season, for me, it really does feel like coming home,' Cipriani said.

'In the professional era, players naturally move clubs more frequently than they used to, but I still feel such a strong connection with Wasps.

'It's where I learned my trade, alongside incredible players like Lawrence Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Alex King, Fraser Waters, Josh Lewsey and Paul Sackey.

'I have such good memories of that period in my life, I feel much more equipped to handle and deal with the expectation that comes when you put on the black and gold jersey.

Cipriani won the last of his 14 England caps during the World Cup warm-up clash with France last August 

Cipriani won the last of his 14 England caps during the World Cup warm-up clash with France last August 

CIPRIANI'S CAREER SO FAR

2006-2010: London Wasps (130 Premiership matches, 973 points)

2011-2012: Melbourne Rebels (19 Super Rugby matches, 122 points)

2012-2016: Sale Sharks (65 Premiership matches, 502 points)

2008- present: England (14 caps, 64 points)

'I feel next season will be the right time for a new challenge, at a club which in my heart will always feel like a second home, where I know I will settle quickly.'

Cipriani invoked a break clause in his contract at Sale Sharks and his decision to leave the club he joined in 2013, with a year remaining on his contract, will infuriate director of rugby Steve Diamond.

But the move is a dream return to the club where Cipriani began his professional career as an 18-year-old before leaving under a cloud to join Melbourne Rebels in 2010 after failing to secure a regular starting spot under former England coach Martin Johnson.

Widely regarded as one of the most gifted players of his generation, his omission from Lancaster's World Cup squad was viewed as baffling by many and his signing is another indication of Wasps new-found ambition at the Coventry-based club.

Cipriani breaks past All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina during England's clash with New Zealand in 2014 

Cipriani breaks past All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina during England's clash with New Zealand in 2014 

Wasps nearly went bankrupt 18 months ago but have new-found stability under the ownership of businessman Derek Richardson and their relocation from Wycombe to the Ricoh Arena has been heralded as a huge commercial success.

'It's brilliant to see how the club has rebuilt over the past couple of seasons,' Cipriani added.

'The potential of the squad that Dai (Young) has developed is really exciting and I have been impressed by the ambition Wasps has shown since Derek Richardson took over and stabilised things.

'I'm really looking forward to playing alongside guys I started my career with, like James Haskell, Joe Simpson, Christian Wade and Elliot Daly, in a squad that loves to play attacking, expansive rugby.'

Cipriani (left) began his professional career as an 18-year-old with Wasps. He is pictured in 2009 

Cipriani (left) began his professional career as an 18-year-old with Wasps. He is pictured in 2009 

Rugby director Dai Young admitted he was delighted to be able to bring Cipriani back to Wasps.

'We have always been keen for Danny to return to Wasps; everyone knows how talented a player Danny is and how much his game has developed since he made such an impact for England at a young age.

'As well as his obvious attacking attributes, Danny has matured as a player and controls the game well as a 10.' 

Toulon and Quins had both shown interest but Cipriani had no doubt about where to return.

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