England Rugby have announced that Ellis Genge has flown back from the national team’s tour to South Africa at the weekend following a knee injury.

The Leicester Tigers loosehead prop will continue his treatment back at his club while Exeter’s Alec Hepburn joins the England squad in Durban ahead of the third Test in Cape Town.

Genge, who had not been involved I nthe matchday squad for the defeats in the opening two Tests of the tour, tweeted: “Gutted my tour’s ended early, wishing all the boys best of luck with rest of the tour.”

England have also announced that Saracens prop Mako Vunipola is travelling back to London for family reasons which were agreed ahead of the tour, while his brother Billy also returns home after it was confirmed he re-fractured his arm during England's match against South Africa on Saturday.