England captain Phil Vickery is set to miss the two-Test tour of New Zealand in June after suffering a knee injury during Wasps's Premiership win over Sale on Tuesday which is expected to rule him out for at least eight weeks, according to his club.

England play the All Blacks in Auckland on June 14 and again in Christchurch a week later.

In the short-term Vickery has effectively been ruled out of the remainder of the English domestic season after a scan today showed he'd suffered a a tear to the medial collateral ligament of his right knee.

Wasps have four Premiership games remaining against Saracens, Gloucester, Newcastle and Leeds.

Having won their last seven league matches, they are on course to secure a place in the end-of-season play-offs that decide the destiny of the English title.

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan said: "Losing a player of Phil's calibre and experience is obviously a major blow, especially at this crucial time of the season.

"However, the busy schedule we've been faced with recently has demonstrated the strength that we have throughout the Wasps squad," the former Scotland and British and Irish Lions supremo added.

"With careful management, allied to the spirit and determination the players are showing, we are confident we can remain competitive for the remainder of the season."

One consolation for England has been the impressive form this season of Bath's Matt Stevens, who plays in Vickery's position of tighthead prop.

AFP