(Reuters) - Centre Ben Te'o will miss England's tour of South Africa next month after sustaining a thigh muscle injury, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Tuesday.
England coach Eddie Jones has made three changes to his initial 34-man squad, with the 31-year-old Worcester player Te'o requiring minor surgery.
Northampton back Piers Francis, Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes and uncapped Gloucester fullback Jason Woodward were drafted in as replacements for injured trio Te'o, Cameron Redpath (knee) and Jack Willis (knee).
The squad began their final preparations at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday before flying to South Africa on Saturday for the three-test series.
England, who suffered three successive Six Nations defeats earlier this year, lost 63-45 to the Barbarians in a non-cap match at Twickenham on Sunday.
They will face South Africa in Johannesburg (June 9), Bloemfontein (June 16) and Cape Town (June 23).
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris)