Dan Hipkiss has ridden the wave of Leicester's late surge to the Guinness Premiership final all the way back to England's senior squad. Hipkiss, the centre who played most of the second half of last year's World Cup final against South Africa, was overlooked for the senior and Saxons squads on tour next month but now replaces Danny Cipriani on the two-match visit to New Zealand.

Cipriani, the London Wasps fly half, is due to leave hospital today after the break and dislocation of his right ankle during Sunday's play-off game with Bath, but will not play again for six months. Rather than opt for another inexperienced fly half, Martin Johnson, the England team manager, has chosen an in-form centre who will put pressure on the two individuals generally considered to be first choice, Mike Tindall and Olly Barkley.

But England's midfield is a moveable feast little more than three weeks before the first encounter with the All Blacks in Auckland. After Tindall suffered severe injuries to internal organs during the opening game of the RBS Six Nations Championship against Wales, Jamie Noon and Toby Flood were paired at centre, while Barkley was not considered by Brian Ashton, the former England head coach, because of a pending court case that has now been dropped.

Both the Newcastle Falcons players are in the tour party, as is Mathew Tait, their club colleague, who also covers full back, but Newcastle's form has been nothing to write home about in the second half of the season. Given the strength of his display in Leicester's play-off win over Gloucester last weekend, therefore, Hipkiss must be in the frame to add to his six caps. “I obviously can't help but feel for Danny and the injuries he has suffered, and my thoughts are with him,” Hipkiss, 25, said. “However, this gives me the chance to tour New Zealand and it will be a very tough and challenging environment.”

Anthony Allen, of Gloucester, may wonder what he has to do to win promotion from the Saxons, but Hipkiss was one of the younger players - Flood was another - who impressed Johnson at the World Cup. The Leicester player may not have dipped out of sight but for a groin injury and the selectorial merry-go-round at his club after the arrival of Marcelo Loffreda as head coach last November.

Newcastle have confirmed the position of Steve Bates as director of rugby for the next three years, but are seeking a defence coach and a forwards coach. Bates, the former England scrum half enjoying his second stint at Kingston Park after three years with Borders in Scotland, has been acting director since the departure two months ago of John Fletcher and his forwards coach, Peter Walton. “Steve will be given the resources he needs to recruit,” David Thompson, the Falcons chairman, said.

Wales have yet to confirm a replacement at hooker for Huw Bennett for their tour to South Africa next month. Bennett damaged an ankle playing in the Shane Williams testimonial match last weekend and Richard Hibbard, his Ospreys colleague, has been added to the training squad.

Gareth Thomas, the former Wales captain, is one of two centurions who will play for the Barbarians on their three-match tour that begins on Saturday. Thomas, who won 100 caps for his country, will be joined by Stephen Larkham, who won 102 for Australia, in the party that will play Belgium in Brussels before meetings with Ireland at Kingsholm on Tuesday and England at Twickenham on June 1.

Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo, the Gloucester backs who played for England in the Six Nations, will represent the Baa-Baas after being overlooked for both national tour squads.