Cipriani ready for astonishing return

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Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby, said today the club would make a decision at the end of this week that could see Cipriani play in Wednesday's Premiership home match against Bath or the EDF Energy Cup tie at Gloucester on 4 October.

It raises the possibility of Cipriani being available for England's autumn internationals at Twickenham, where they face the Pacific Barbarians, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand on successive weekends in November.

The fly-half is excited about making his comeback and said today: "It's going to be emotional enough to calm myself because I'll be very excited, ready to play.

"To hear your name called at the beginning of the match, it kicks home and you realise that you're about to take part in a Premiership game and that four months ago is over now."

Cipriani targeted October as his comeback date but a dramatic improvement in the ankle after tireless work with the Wasps medical staff has allowed him to take part in full contact training for the first time this week.

He told Sky Sports News: "I've had my doubts and voiced my opinions but my friends told me to just get on with it."

It will be Cipriani's reaction to that contact work that will be the deciding factor in when Wasps, who have lost all three league matches this season, throw him back into action.

McGeechan said: "Cips has started full contact training and it will be a case of which match is right for him.

"He is back a month ahead of schedule, a phenomenal achievement. Key factors in allowing him to be at this stage was the fact that our physio was able to put his ankle back into place on the pitch shortly after the injury happened.

"Cips then put in seven weeks of outstanding rehabilitation work.But I can assure everyone that he will only play if 100 per cent fit."

Meanwhile, England players have failed to make it onto the shortlist for the IRB Player of the Year award.

Scotland's Mike Blair and Wales pair Shane Williams and Ryan Jones have been nominated along with Kiwi Dan Carter and Italy's Sergio Parisse.