Danny Cipriani's controversial move to Melbourne Rebels in September is on the brink of collapse.
In the aftermath of his split from actress and model Kelly Brook, Cipriani has grown disillusioned with rugby and has told friends he is trying to get out of the two-year contract he signed with the new Super 15 team.
The 22-year-old discarded England fly-half, whose career at Wasps ends next week, is said to have lost more than a stone in weight since playing his final game for the club last month.
According to a close family source, Cipriani, who had football trials with Queens Park Rangers and Reading as a teenager, has been approached by Fulham with the view to a trial on July 7. West Ham are also said to be interested in at least testing out the rugby star.
The RFU are believed to know about Cipriani's apparent interest in switching to football, but the Melbourne Rebels insist the stand-off is still due to travel Down Under in two months' time.
Former World Cup-winning Australia manager Rod MacQueen, who has been named the Rebels' first coach, said: 'Danny's a little broken-hearted after breaking up with his girlfriend but, as far as I know, he's not trying to get out of his contract. A few of us have spoken to him and the situation with the contract is cool.'
But friends insist that the break-up with Brook has left Cipriani's dreams of a new life in Australia in tatters.
In recent weeks he has been seen frequenting Hollywood parties and failing to secure a professional rugby contract Down Under for his best friend, Ed Lewis-Pratt, who has been released from his contract at London Welsh.
