The 24-year-old forward has been struggling with an Achilles injury and will miss Saturdays Premiership final against Wasps at Twickenham.

Flatman has also been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin on June 12 and is unlikely to be fit for selection until the later stages of the tour, which include a second clash against the All Blacks and a showdown with Australia.

But Sir Clive Woodward is anxious to take the powerful front rower Down Under and revealed he will select another prop as cover, potentially increasing the size of the squad to 31 players.

The medical advice regarding Flatman is that he wont be available this weekend for Bath or for the first game of the tour in Dunedin, said the England boss.

You have to feel for Flatman because he had a big chance on this tour. Hes unlikely to be fit but I still may take him as he could have recovered by the end of the trip. I would also take another prop with us, even if David did still come.

Well definitely be adding one more prop to the party. I want to watch everyone play this weekend before I announce who it is, but it should be one of David Barnes, Tim Payne or Mike Worsley.

Woodward is preparing England for Sundays fixture against the Barbarians but fans travelling to Twickenham hoping to see their World Cup heroes in action will be left bitterly disappointed.

Only Leeds hooker Mark Regan remains from the squad which landed the Webb Ellis trophy last November, with Saturdays Premiership and Wildcard finals and the Bordeaux Sevens robbing him of many big names.

Woodward is also anxious to avoid sustaining any further injuries to his squad ahead of the tour to the southern hemisphere, prompting him to leave out the likes of Richard Hill, Matt Dawson and Ben Cohen.

However, Englands head coach still believes the line-up has the making of a quality outfit and is particularly excited by the back three of Marcel Garvey, Paul Sackey and Michael Horak.

Horak played against Argentina when I gave him his cap. Hes slipped down the pecking order a little bit but hes an outstanding player, he said.

Sackey is also special, so to have him and Gravey on the flanks is an exciting prospect. If we get the ball to them we should have a good afternoon.

Sackey has had an outstanding season and hes had a lot of people pushing him to be in the line-up - and rightly so.