Lipman angry at snub
Michael Lipman revealed the depth of frustration he feels at being shunned by English rugby and forced to relaunch his professional career in Australia.
Lipman, who has won 10 caps for England, was banned for nine months last August along with Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins after all three failed to take a drugs test.
Bath had been investigating allegations of misconduct during an end-of-season celebration and Lipman said he now regrets following the advice he received at the time, which was not to provide a sample.
Lipman and Crockett both launched a failed appeal against the Rugby Football Union's sanction while Higgins decided to retire from the sport.
But Lipman is the only one of the three without a professional contract in England for next season, after Higgins signed for Premiership newcomers Exeter and Crockett for Worcester.
Lipman believes he is perceived as being tainted goods. He did not receive a single offer and none of England's national coaching team has been in touch.
After his ban expired in March, Lipman returned to his boyhood home of Sydney to play for Warringah in the local club competition and chase a deal with the new Super 15 franchise Melbourne Rebels.
When the Australian Rugby Union initially blocked his move, Lipman was resigned to forging a new career behind a desk somewhere in order to make ends meet.
A fortnight ago, the ARU performed a u-turn and handed Lipman the chance to move on with his life after a turbulent 12 months.
But it is a slow process. England's arrival in Australia this week ahead of a five-match tour has only served to remind Lipman how much the whole episode cost him.
"It has been pretty hard," Lipman said.
"I didn't really know exactly where I was heading. Life has been a bit in limbo over the last year. I was having to consider getting a nine to five job.
"There is curiosity about what would happen if I had stayed in England but what do you do if you haven't got a contract in front of you?
"Higgy is a good player and so is Crocks. I am happy for them. They are a little bit younger than me and they have a good future.
"I didn't really have another option but to come to Australia. I was just hoping the Melbourne thing would tick over. I just waited and waited.
"Luckily they stuck with me and I have got a bit of direction now and a bit of security."
But what Lipman does not have any more is an international career - and that hurts.
There is every chance Lipman could have been on one of England's tours had a Premiership club snapped him up earlier in the season, but that ambition now appears to be all over.
Lipman fears that a blinding season for the Rebels - one in which he out-plays Richie McCaw, Schalk Burger and David Pocock - would still not be enough to earn him an England recall.
Form is not the only criteria Martin Johnson and the England coaches look at when it comes to selection.
Asked whether he feels England consider him to be tainted goods, Lipman said: "To tell you the truth, I think so, yes.
"I would love to play for England again.
"That is a perception that they have and there is nothing really I can do about it other than playing the best I can on the field.
"It is bloody frustrating. The whole thing at Bath was a massive misunderstanding, especially for myself and Crocks.
"We did the hair test and it came out negative, which proves we should have just done it.
"But the advice we were given at the time from various people - the PRA (players' union), solicitors and agents - was not to do it.
"You pay your agent to give you advice, you pay solicitors to give you advice and the PRA and they all tell not to do the test because you are on holiday time and it is a hair follicle test and it is not with WADA or UK Sport.
"It is one of those on-the-spot decisions you have to make. Unfortunately it was the wrong decision and I have paid the price.
"I need to move on with my life. I can only look to the future now and hopefully Melbourne will be a good experience.
"The six years I had with Bath was awesome and I don't really have any regrets but that chapter is closed."
Lipman will link up with the Rebels on October 1 and he is excited about getting the chance to help establish the new franchise, where he will perform a senior leadership role.
The agreement with the ARU was that Lipman would mentor a young Australian open-side flanker.
As well as Danny Cipriani, Lipman will be joined in Melbourne by former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock, Wales number eight Gareth Delve and highly-rated Australia prospect Richard Kingi.
"Rod Macqueen is the most respected coach in Australian history. I think it can be quite special down in Melbourne," he said.