Leicester Tigers No8 Thomas Waldrom is flying out to New Zealand as precautionary cover for England back-rower Nick Easter.

Easter is having treatment on a back injury which forced him to miss Sunday’s win over Georgia in the second game of England’s Rugby World Cup campaign.

Waldrom, who was part of the extended World Cup preliminary squad, will arrive in New Zealand on Wednesday.

The RFU have announced that he is not an official replacement for Andrew Sheridan whose tournament was ended by a shoulder injury and has already returned to the UK.

England team manager Martin Johnson said: “Nick Easter is still suffering from a sore back so we will be bringing Thomas out as temporary cover. We’ve spoken to Leicester and Thomas will be flying later today.”

Waldrom has played in all three of Leicester Tigers’ games in the Aviva Premiership and scored a try in the opening-day game against Exeter Chiefs.

Tigers already have 11 players in New Zealand, including six members of England’s squad.