MELBOURNE - Former England flyhalf Danny Cipriani has left the Melbourne Rebels midway through the Super Rugby season, local media reported on Monday.

The Rebels were not immediately able to confirm the departure of the 24-year-old, who was on a two-year deal with the club which was set to expire this year.

Cipriani was due to return to England at the end of the season after signing a three-year deal with the Sale Sharks in March in a bid to revive his international career.

The seven-test flyhalf joined the foundation Rebels side last year as a marquee player, citing hopes of a fresh start away from the media glare in England, but was soon under the spotlight in Australia for breaching team discipline on a number of occasions.

Cipriani landed himself in hot water last year for taking a bottle of vodka from the bar of a local nightspot without paying for it and was later stood down for a month for breaching team curfews and failing to turn up to training.

He pledged to see out his contract with the Rebels last year and despite no further reports of off-field problems, has struggled for form this year in a new-look side boasting Wallabies recruits Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor.

Reports said Cipriani's early departure had been approved by the club and was not related to any further discipline breach. (Reuters)