Wasps have begun an investigation into the incident with the 31-year-old Payne being cleared to start playing again with the squad.

Payne will now be available for Saturday’s St George's Day clash at Twickenham with Bath but Powell must wait for the results of the ongoing investigation.

Payne played for England in all of last year’s RBS 6 Nations but has seen his international spot taken first by the returning Andrew Sheridan and then by Alex Corbisiero.

Powell meanwhile lasted just 33 minutes in Wales’ Six Nations opener against England before being forced off with a shoulder injury.

That ruled him out for their morale-boosting win in Scotland and Powell was unable to break back into the squad in the remainder of the tournament.

Powell’s deal at Adams Park runs out at the end of the season and he had been hoping to extend his stay in High Wycombe.

That now depends on the result of the investigation and Wasps refused to set a date for its completion.

“We want to make sure we do a proper job and we don't know how long that will take - we have no set time frame,” said a club spokesman.