Powell's World Cup hopes have taken a fresh blow © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Andy Powell

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Wales | Wasps

Wales international Andy Powell is to leave Wasps by mutual consent, the Aviva Premiership club have announced.

Powell's future at the London side had been in doubt after a pub brawl in the capital which the club were investigating. Powell's team-mate, England prop Tim Payne, had also initially been banned, but his suspension was lifted less than 48 hours after it was imposed. However, Powell remained suspended as a probe was launched into the incident last month at the Walkabout pub in Shepherds Bush.

A statement released by the club this evening read, "London Wasps can today announce that Andy Powell is to leave the club by mutual consent. This announcement comes following a thorough and detailed review, between the player and the club, of all of the evidence arising from the incident for which Andy was initially suspended.

"This included a review of CCTV footage of the incident and statements from those witnesses present throughout. Both parties are satisfied that this matter has been dealt with in a proper, fair and appropriate manner and agree that the conclusion reached is in their respective best interests for the future.

"Both parties have also agreed that there will be no further comment from either side and the club considers the matter now closed."

The 29-year-old had joined Wasps on a one-year contract in July last year after he was released early by Cardiff Blues after five years with the Welsh club. He is now looking for another club although the season is almost over, but his future with Wales is now uncertain.

Powell was in the headlines for the wrong reasons in February last year after pleading guilty to driving a golf buggy while unfit through drink after the player was arrested at a motorway service station at junction 33 of the M4 hours following Wales' victory over Scotland in the Six Nations. He was dropped from the Wales squad with immediate effect and at the subsequent trial was banned from driving for 15 months and fined £1,000.

Wales coach Warren Gatland puts a real emphasis on discipline and will have been less than impressed by Powell's latest brush with the law, with the pair set to meet for showdown talks. The incident has put the player's involvement with this year's World Cup in doubt, especially given the strong competition in the back row.

Wales play the Barbarians on June 4 and have a further three warm-up games - against England home away and versus Argentina - in August. The deadline for the naming of the 30-man squad is August 22, meaning Powell has just four games to cement his place for the tournament in New Zealand in September and October.