Dallaglio: Cipriani should stay

Lawrence Dallaglio has urged Danny Cipriani to stay at Wasps for the benefit of his England career after confirming the club have opened new contract negotiations with the fly-half.

Cipriani's current one-year deal expires at the end of the season and he is certain to attract interest from rival clubs, both in the Guinness Premiership and in the lucrative French Top 14.

"Every player is entitled to look elsewhere but one has to remember where your bread is buttered and what the best chance of getting international rugby is," said Dallaglio, whose role on the Wasps board includes player recruitment and retention.

"Danny Cipriani was born to play for Wasps and I am pretty confident he will be a Wasps player next year. Negotiations are under way.

"He is happy where he is - I am sure if he wasn't he would tell us - and he has got a half-back in Joe Simpson who is one of the bright young stars of English rugby and someone (England manager) Martin Johnson will have to look at for the Six Nations."

Cipriani only agreed a 12-month contract in March because he wanted proof new owner Steve Hayes would take the club forward following the departures of key internationals James Haskell, Riki Flutey and Tom Palmer to France.

At the time, Cipriani said: "I'll know in a year if they are going to develop this club. I'm Wasps through and through and by the end of this year I could have signed another three years on top of it."