England fly-half Danny Cipriani will give up on World Cup selection upon Six Nations snub

Danny Cipriani will abandon ambitions to play at the World Cup and leave Sale Sharks for Toulon should the fly-half be omitted from England's Six Nations squad.

The 27 year old was left out of the squad for the autumn internationals, with George Ford, Owen Farrell and Stephen Myler preferred by Stuart Lancaster, with Cipriani fourth in the pecking order.

And should Cipriani again be overlooked by England, the player will leave Sale for Top 14 and European champions Toulon, a switch that would all but extinguish his hopes of featuring in the World Cup.

The Rugby Football Union has pledged to only select players playing in their homeland and Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond expects an imminent decision from Cipriani over his international and club future.

"Danny's going to make a decision in the next two weeks," Diamond said of Cipriani, who has played just twice for England since 2008. "He has spoken with England, he's still in the fourth [fly-half] spot, I don't think things have changed since the autumn.

"If he gets a sniff and can break into the Six Nations, he sees his future giving it a shot for England. He could possibly move to another English club. But I think England is the deciding factor.

"I don't think he's motivated solely by money, as nobody who plays for Sale is. It's down to how he sees himself going over the next two or three years. If he sees himself pushing one of these [others] out, he's not one to run away from a challenge."

Cipriani will have the opportunity to impress in the Premiership visit of Northampton and the European Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne before the England squad is finalised in late January, ahead of the opening Six Nations fixture against Wales on 6 February.

"He's got to play well against sides like Northampton and if he does that and he thinks it's right to stay, I'm pretty sure he'll sign here," Diamond added.

"If he doesn't, he'll probably take his option abroad. He's unlucky. Anyone worth their salt on selection, which is the most important job on national teams, he's got to be given a run.

"You would be foolhardy not to see what he's like against the other major teams in the Six Nations. That's my opinion."