Manu Tuilagi will miss England's tour to Australia next month with a hamstring problem, the Rugby Football Union has announced.
Tuilagi sustained the injury in Leicester's Aviva Premiership semi-final defeat at Saracens on Saturday and, following a scan, has been ruled out of the three-Test series against the Wallabies.
A replacement will be named after Sunday's pre-tour Test against Wales at Twickenham.
"It's bad luck for Manu so close to the tour, but it provides a great opportunity for someone else. We wish Manu all the best and a quick recovery," head coach Eddie Jones said.
Tuilagi's withdrawal is the latest setback for a player whose injury record is beginning to make grim reading.
In January he returned from a 15-month absence due to a groin problem and his comeback since has been interrupted by two separate hamstring complaints and a knee issue.
It is almost two years since he started for England with his only appearance since the 2014 tour to New Zealand a final quarter cameo as a replacement in the RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales in February.
The 25-year-old could at least have expected to provide midfield cover from the bench against the Wallabies and was a potential starter in the series that unfolds over three Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Source: PA
