Wasps and England fly-half Danny Cipriani will require around six months to recover from a fracture dislocation of his right ankle, the Premiership club have confirmed.
He will miss his club’s Premiership title bid against Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday week, plus England’s two-Test New Zealand tour next month.
England manager Martin Johnson looked on at Adams Park as 20-year-old Cipriani suffered a suspected fractured ankle during Wasps’ 21-10 Premiership play-off victory over Bath.
Cipriani, whose right leg was trapped beneath him following a tackle by Bath centre Olly Barkley, might struggle to play again before Christmas.
And his absence is a huge blow for club and country, given the impact he has made this season.
Cipriani was set to start at fly-half against the All Blacks in June after starring in England’s RBS 6 Nations finale against Ireland.
He had ousted 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson as England’s first choice fly-half, but he now faces a long spell of rehabilitation.
The Cipriani incident overshadowed what should have been a memorable day for captain Lawrence Dallaglio as Wasps powered into the final.
Dallaglio brings down the curtain on his illustrious 18-year career at the end of the season, and he will now have the chance to say a triumphant farewell.
Bath paid the price for not converting their dominant spells into points, and they only had an Alex Crockett try to show for their early onslaught.
Stung into action, Wasps ran in three tries through Fraser Waters, Riki Flutey and Tom Palmer to clinch a brutal contest at Adams Park.
