Wasps have hit out at England's decision to drop Danny Cipriani for Saturday's Six Nations game against Scotland, describing it as "very harsh".

England coach Brian Ashton axed the 20-year-old Wasps player after he was photographed leaving a London nightclub soon after midnight on Thursday morning.

Cipriani was due to make his first start for England at full-back in the Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield but he will now not even travel with the squad to Edinburgh.

He might now feature for Wasps in the Guinness Premiership game with Harlequins on Sunday.

"We are hugely disappointed with the decision to withdraw Danny from the England team, and similarly disappointed for Danny himself," said Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan (pictured).

"Danny was pictured outside a nightclub last night, where he had gone in to see a friend. He did not stay inside the nightclub for any length of time and he was not drinking.

"He was at worst naïve in his actions, but no more than that. Given the circumstances, a measured response to his actions was required and I think this is a very harsh decision.

"Danny will return to club training tomorrow, and as we are currently selecting the Wasps team to face Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership on Sunday, we will be considering Danny in our selection for that game."

Iain Balshaw, who Cipriani was due to replace, will now start at full-back while Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson has been called into the squad as cover on the bench.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport