Cipriani's on the mend but misses Wasps trip

London Wasps, the reigning English champions, have started their two week pre-season training camp in Granada without Danny Cipriani, their England outside half.

Cipriani, who broke and dislocated his ankle at the end of last season, has discarded his protective boot on that right leg and will continue his rehabilitation after a short holiday.

Cipriani is aiming for a return to action in November, but Wasps should have the services of England duo Tom Voyce and Dave Walder for the start of what will be a very testing season for the squad.

Wasps have 14 players named in the England senior and Saxons elite player squads which means the club will be unable to use nearly an entire team for set periods of the season under the new deal with the RFU. The 12 Premiership clubs will receive around £140,000 in compensation from the RFU for every player included in the senior Elite Player Squad and a lesser amount for those in the Saxons.

Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby, has only made limited additions to his squad, brining in All Black scrum half Mark Robinson and veteran French flanker Serge Betsen along with 20-year-old Lachlan Mitchell, the highly rated Sydney University utility back who has joined from the New South Wales Waratahs junior squad.

Voyce dislocated his shoulder against Bath in last season's Guinness Premiership semi-final victory, while Walder suffered a broken leg against Worcester in April. Although both players are progressing well they will not be included in the match squad to face Dax in a pre season friendly at the end of the Granada training period.