Voyce races against time for fitness
Wasps and England wing Tom Voyce will have surgery on the shoulder he dislocated in the Guinness Premiership semi-final against Bath on Sunday, and faces three months' rehabilitation before he will be match-fit again.
Wasps and England wing Tom Voyce will have surgery on the shoulder he dislocated in the Guinness Premiership semi-final against Bath on Sunday, and faces three months' rehabilitation before he will be match-fit again.
The scheduled recovery time means he is racing against a deadline to be fit for the start of the next Guinness Premiership season.
Meanwhile, fly-half Danny Cipriani was discharged from hospital on Tuesday following surgery on Sunday on a fracture dislocation of his right ankle.
The operation, performed by ankle specialist James Calder, went exceptionally well.
Cipriani is currently at home and keeping the ankle elevated for the next two weeks as a part of the recovery process.
And Wasps flank Rob Webber has revealed everyone at the club is “gutted” about Cipriani's horrific injury but says he expects the pivot to bounce back a stronger player.
The England international is set for six months on the sidelines and will now miss England's summer tour of New Zealand and the start of next season's domestic campaign.
Yet Webber admitted the squad's delight at setting up another Twickenham final with Leicester was tinged with unfortunate disappointment.
“Everyone's gutted for him. He's had a fantastic year and that's summed up by the other players who have nominated him in the Premiership awards – he's in every category. It's a credit to the way he's been playing,” he said.
“(Coach) Shaun (Edwards) has been in to see Danny. But he's a strong guy and he'll come back bigger and stronger.”
“You can't really put it into words (how the squad feels).
“But these things are sent to test us – you just have to take it on the chin.”
The 21-year-old Webber, himself a rising star in the Wasps ranks, said the team now had to concentrate on the May 31 final – a game which will be skipper Lawrence Dallaglio's last before retirement.
“We're elated to have won it and got through to the final. At Wasps we pride ourselves to be in the mix at the end of the year and again we've given ourselves every chance,” he added.
“I don't know if the will-to-win can get stronger in a Premiership final, but you couldn't get a more fitting match for Lawrence's last game.
“He's been a great servant to the club and to the game. In particular, he's been great towards the young lads coming through.”