England's rising star Danny Cipriani may not play competitive rugby again until next year's RBS 6 Nations after his club Wasps confirmed he will be out of action for at least six months 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 teammate 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.
Cipriani, who put in a man-of-the-match display on his full England debut against Ireland in this year's Six Nations, will begin an intensive period of rehabilitation as soon as possible.
Wasps' initial prognosis is that Cipriani will take around six months to regain full fitness, although the likely duration of his absence will remain under regular review by the medical staff of the London club.
What is certain is that England's brightest prospect will 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 with a clash against the Wallabies at Twickenham on November 15th.
