Newcastle Cancel Battle of Test No10s As Wilkinson Pulls Out

Jonny Wilkinson's keenly awaited showdown with his new England fly-half rival, Danny Cipriani, has been postponed. Newcastle have omitted their Test fly-half from tonight's Guinness Premiership fixture against Wasps at Kingston Park.

The original contest between the sides in February was called off because of high winds and the Falcons' caretaker coach, Steve Bates, did not want to ask Wilkinson to play so soon after Sunday's win over Leicester. An impending shoulder operation will rule him out of England's summer trip to New Zealand.

"That Leicester game was a huge physical contest, especially for Jonny with the way he plays," said Bates. "We just thought there was very little to be gained by putting him through another similar match in the space of four days. It was a reasonably straightforward decision... we might give some of the younger guys a run [against Worcester on Saturday] and allow Jonny to go in to his operation without playing another game."

The team sheet will, nevertheless, disappoint a sold-out crowd and those clubs vying with Wasps for a play-off slot. Bates has made eight changes and a number of switches, although the Sale-bound Mathew Tait does feature in the center. Steve Jones will wear the No10 jersey.

Wasps, needing a bonus-point win to maintain their chances of a home semi-final, have reshuffled their pack following Sunday's home defeat to Gloucester, with the prop Pat Barnard making a timely return. Lawrence Dallaglio and Raphaël Ibanez are rested and Riki Flutey is at full-back and Dominic Waldouck in midfield with Fraser Waters. "With three games in seven days, the way we manage our players this week is crucial," said the Wasps director of rugby, Ian McGeechan.

Sale have signed the 24-year-old Leicester flanker Luke Abraham on a two-year deal. The Newport-Gwent Dragons have effectively been given a free ride into next year's Heineken Cup after organizers lost patience with the Italian Rugby Federation's failure to nominate a team to contest the 24th place. The Italian championship semi-finals will not be completed before the scheduled play-off date of May 31 and the ERC Board has opted to award the final place to the Magners League.