Wasps axe Vickery after citing

WASPS have confirmed that England captain Phil Vickery was not considered for today’s Heineken Cup clash against Clermont Auvergne for disciplinary reasons.

Vickery faces a hearing in Glasgow next Wednesday after being cited for allegedly trampling on Clermont lock Thibaut Privat during Wasps’ 37-27 defeat in France last weekend.

Wasps must win the return fixture at Adams Park to keep alive their hopes of qualifying from Pool Five.

But Vickery will not be involved, with his place going to Nick Adams. If found guilty of the charge by a three-man disciplinary panel, Vickery can expect a ban that would sideline him for Guinness Premiership games either side of Christmas.

Ian McGeechan believes Wasps will require a “top-class performance” to effectively stay alive in the pool of death.