Danny Cipriani appears unlikely to play for England until next year's Six Nations after Wasps confirmed he was set for six months on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old underwent surgery last night on a fracture dislocation of his right ankle, suffered during his side's Guinness Premiership play-off victory over Bath yesterday afternoon.
Cipriani - admitted with team-mate Tom Voyce, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the same match - will remain under observation in London's Lister Hospital for the next couple of days.
Wasps' head physiotherapist Prav Mathema said: "On behalf of London Wasps, Danny and Tom, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in managing the treatment of those two players yesterday. London Wasps' own medical team, Bath's medical team, the paramedics, consultants and the Lister Hospital staff were exemplary in their medical care of these two players."
Cipriani, who put in a man-of-the-match display on his full England debut against Ireland in his country's final game of this year's Six Nations, will begin an intensive period of rehabilitation as soon as possible. Although the initial prognosis is that he will take around six months to regain full fitness the likely duration of his absence will remain under regular review by the club's medical staff.
However, Cipriani is certain to miss the forthcoming tour of New Zealand, and is a major doubt for the home autumn internationals against Australia, South Africa and the All Blacks - which begin on November 15.
England Team Manager, Martin Johnson said today: "On behalf of the England summer tour squad we all feel for Danny over the injury he suffered on Sunday. The England medical team will be in regular contact with London
Wasps over the next few months regarding his rehabilitation and we all
wish Danny a speedy recovery.
"I will discuss with Rob Andrew and the coaches the candidates to replace
Danny on the summer tour and we will make an announcement tomorrow."
The injury, which happened as new England team manager Martin Johnson watched on at Adams Park yesterday, occurred when Cipriani's right leg was trapped beneath him during a tackle by Bath counterpart Olly Barkley in the Londoners' 21-10 victory.
It is a similar injury to that suffered by Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio during the British Lions' tour of New Zealand three years ago. On that occasion, the former England number eight was out for around six months before making a full recovery.
