England hooker Dylan Hartley will miss his country's tour to Australia and New Zealand after suffering a knee injury.

Hartley, 24, has been replaced by Leicester's George Chuter after sustaining the damage to his left knee playing for Northampton in their Premiership semi-final loss against Saracens on Sunday.

A scan revealed New Zealand-born Hartley needs an arthroscopy to treat the damage to his cartilage.

Hartley, who had started England's last seven Tests, has been in fine form since being handed the Northampton captaincy at the start of the season and led his club to the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

Brive front-rower Steve Thompson and his Bath counterpart Lee Mears are the most likely contenders to take Hartley's place in the two upcoming Tests against Australia.

An RFU statement read: "Dylan Hartley saw a specialist yesterday (Wednesday) and had a scan on a left knee injury.

"The results of the scan concluded that Dylan requires an arthroscopy in order to treat some damage to his cartilage.

"The injury was sustained in Dylan's last game for Northampton Saints against Saracens in the Premiership semi-final.

"Dylan is therefore out of the tour to Australia and New Zealand and his place in the Senior England EPS will be taken by George Chuter."

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